NetSeries in Detail
NetSeries is a range of products (NetTest, NetSurvey, NetResult, NetEnterprise, NetSchool, NetCollege, NetElan) all based upon the same application. NetSeries is an easy-to-install, specialized webserver incorporating a custom database. It can run as a normal application for the purposes of customer testing and experimentation, and also as a Windows Service (better suited to server applications that run when no one is logged onto the computer).
- Can run as an application (useful for customer testing and experimentation).
- Can run as a Windows Service (better suited when running on a server, as it can run in the background when no one is logged on).
- Multithreaded, and built in C++ for speed — has been run with thousands of connections and handles most complex requests in under 0.001 seconds.
- Built-in proprietary database for speed.
- Database can be backed up live, and has an automatic, rolling purge.
- Implements the HTTP 1.1 protocol, and pages served conform to CSS 1.0 and XHTML 1.0.
- Supports network monitoring.
- Needs only Windows computer to run (Windows XP Professional recommended).
- Does not need any external database licences nor Windows Server licences.
- No support for scripting, DLL calls or other common methods exploited in attacks.
- Can support multiple services (for commercial hosting).
- Can run from non-standard webserving ports.
- Tested with a database of 1,000,000 users.
- Tested with 250,000 connected users.
- Handled 2,000 logons in under 4 seconds when running on a desktop computer.
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Server
NetSeries is designed to run on almost any computer. Customers often run it as an application on a laptop or desktop computer while evaluating it, or experimenting with content they wish to deliver. We recommend Windows XP or Vista when run as a server. As it is multithreaded it can take advantage of computers with more than one processor, but in most instances this will not be required. The capabilities of the server are rarely an issue. As is explained elsewhere, network capability should usually be a greater concern. Server capability only becomes an issue of other processor-intensive applications are run on the same computer. This is why running NetSeries on a Windows Server is not always a good idea — there are often other, processor-hungry applications running.
Network
An intranet or the internet is required to allow users to connect to NetSeries, take lessons, surveys and tests, view results, etc. The approach to calculating the load on the network is explained elsewhere. However, in summary it is peak rate that is important — the size of the material to be used, and the number of simultaneous users.
Client
E-learning created using Question Tools can be delivered to a client computer in any modern web browser (Internet Explorer 5.0, Netscape Navigator 7.1, FireFox 1.0, AOL 1.0, Mozilla 1.6, Opera 7.23). Materials with animation, complex interaction and even drag and drop activities do not need a browser plug-in. A user can close a half-finished test on one computer using Internet Explorer, move to another computer and complete the test using a FireFox or Opera web browser.
No browser plug-ins are required. The problems these create — often preventing the deployment of whole testing, surveying or training programmes — is explained here. However, if sound or video is included in the materials then delivery via FireFox, Navigator or Mozilla may require the installation of QuickTime, RealPlayer or Windows Media Player.
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