[Moodle] Moodle on Netspace

Tue Dec 12 15:33:14 EST 2006

As a total beginner, my research suggested that Ubuntu was the rising star
of Linux. I also like their ethos. And the desktop PC on a CD concept is
fantastic and free!

So far Ubuntu has been good. The biggest challenge initially was working out
Linux RAID and Logical Volume Management.

As I'm using it purely as a web/web app server I didn't want any GUI desktop
stuff and the flashing white cursor took me back to early DOS days.

Meanwhile I've managed to upgrade the OS - took about 15 minutes (try that
with Windows Server & IIS), installed Webmin to provide a gui interface for
configuring etc.

The school web site is up and under construction using Expression Engine
www.lornep12.vic.edu.au <http://www.lornep12.vic.edu.au/> . I've setup a
couple of mediawiki sites for some yr 7/8 projects. I've figured out some
apache aliases for organising the web root.

There is a way of using Webmin through normal port 80 using reverse proxy,
but the documentation isn't clear so it's not working yet (all server work
has to be done at school).

With report season etc, I haven't had the time to configure email and ftp
services yet either. I'm planning to host a community arts project website
that the school will be involved in so I guess that means setting up a
virtual host in Apache and maybe a local DNS service using BIND if
necessary.

Big learning curve, but I enjoy that kind of thing. It just takes time.
Overall, the experience has been great. It's so easy to add, remove
applications, upgrade etc - once you get the hang of how these things are
done.

Maybe we need an Ubuntu list?

Cheers

Chris

  _____  

From: moodle-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:moodle-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Roland Gesthuizen
Sent: Tuesday, 12 December 2006 3:04 PM
To: The Moodle Users' in Schools Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Moodle] Moodle on Netspace

Interesting Chris .. what do you think of the Ubuntu LAMP server?

I was fascinated to read why a Linux hard disk drive doesnt need to be
fragmented and its technical advantage over a Windows NTFS formatted hard
disk drive. I had suspected as much .. this page explains the details for
lay users like me. :-) 

http://geekblog.oneandoneis2.org/index.php/2006/08/17/why_doesn_t_linux_need
_defragmenting

Regards Roland

On 12/12/06, Chris Ellis <ellis.christopher.l at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote: 

Hi Ian,

I was using the Netspace Netspace Virtual Classroom moodle for about a year.
It was great to get going with. 

But as with the rest of Netspace, quality of service is not really good
enough - we've had no less than half a dozen ACS/Filter proxy issues in the
last week, and this has been going on for months.

Having invested all my coursework into the NVC moodle my classes were 
stuffed when it was off the air - probably 3 days down time over the year. I
also ended up with a forum posting issue that was never resolved. The NVC
support process is take a ticket and we'll get back to you over the next 
couple of days. Often time I had to put in a personal call to Mike D'Monte
to get support action happening in a timely manner.

In frustration, I installed Moodle on the local file server using XAMPP
under windows and it worked a charm, although only available on the LAN. 

Meanwhile I've bought an ACER 530 server, installed Ubuntu LAMP server, had
DE&T allow it as a webserver and will be migrating Moodle to it before the
end of the year (yikes). The webserver has 2 network connections - one for 
the wide world, and the other for the LAN. There is a simple php config for
Moodle which serves the Moodle locally over the LAN (to avoid IP traffic)
and still allows web browsing from outside of VicSmart. Must remember to get

VicSmart to add out Moodle to the Edulist for free traffic for the admin
network.

Under this setup, Moodle will still work regardless of having internet
access functioning.

Hope this helps. The short answer is - if you don't have the tech 
skills/support at school and Netspace aren't charging for it, give it a go
while you introduce Moodle culture to your staff and students. The more
dependent you become on it, the more you will need a more reliable service, 
whether local or hosted commercially.

Cheers

Chris Ellis
ICT Coordinator
Lorne-Aireys Inlet P-12 College

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Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education & Training.
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