Running NetSeries: Common Questions

What sort of computer do I need to run NetSeries?

All you need to run NetSeries is a Windows-based computer, although we recommend Windows NT, 2000, XP or Vista. Question Tools runs its hosting services from computers running Windows XP Professional. Single processor computers with 256 Mb RAM are sufficient for even an average service because NetSeries is fast and efficient. There is more on the size of server you will need here.

Can I run NetSeries from Windows Server 2003?

Yes, but it is not as efficient as running it on Windows XP or Vista. This is because Windows Server has a lot of other processes running. Added to this, Windows Server relies upon Internet Information Server (ISS), and this uses the main webserving port (80) - the same port NetSeries tries to use. You can get NetSeries to use an alternative port, and a number of organizations have adopted this as a successful approach. However, the problem with using another port is that many organizations block other ports using firewalls (i.e. they turn off everything other than the webserving and email ports, and a couple of others).

Can I run NetSeries on my intranet?

Yes, you just need a computer upon which you can install NetSeries. The computer should ideally have a fixed network address (IP address), rather than an address that is allocated automatically and can change (a lot of organizations do this because it makes management easier).

How can I run NetSeries over the internet?

Yes. There are several options. You will need a Windows computer with a permanent internet connection.

1. Hosting. You can use the Question Tools Hosting service - it is the simple and effective solution. There is more information here.
2. Server collocation. Question Tools runs its internet services from collocated servers - i.e. our servers are in a server room at an Internet Service Provider's (ISP's) data centre. Depending upon the quality of the connection you need, you can rent space in these places for your server for as little as £20 to £25 a month.
3. Leased line. If you already have a permanent connection from your organization to the internet then it may be sufficient to support hosting. All you will need is a Windows-based computer, and users on the internet will be able to connect to your service. You will need someone in your IT department to set this up, so that users connecting to take your lessons, surveys and content are allowed through your firewall and directed to the computer running NetSeries.

Can I run NetSeries from our existing web site?

Probably not. Most web sites are hosted on shared web servers - some individual web servers host thousands of different web sites. NetSeries is a specialist webserver it itself, and needs its own computer. Web servers such as Apache, ISS and NetSeries cannot coexist easily on the same computer.

Can we run NetSeries from our domain name?

Yes. It is possible to have your website at www.mydomain.com, and your e-learning at e-learning.mydomain.com, providing you have control of your own DNS settings.

Will NetSeries look like it belongs to my company?

Yes. NetSeries can be easily customized so that it uses your organization's font, colours and logo.

Can I run NetSeries to users over the internet as well as over our intranet?

Yes. You can achieve this is three different ways.

1. You can use a collocated server on the internet (or Question Tools hosting services), and all of your internet-based users will not need to connect via your organization's internet connection. However, the disadvantage here is that your intranet-based users will all be going out onto the internet (through your organization's link) to reach your online lessons, surveys and assessments.
2. You can run NetSeries from your intranet, with internet users coming in over your organization's connection to the internet. You will need to sort this out with your IT department, and your users will need different network addresses depending upon whether they are connecting from the internet or over your organization's intranet. The potential disadvantage of this is that all users on the internet will be using your organization's internet connection to reach NetSeries. There is more information on network load here.
3. You can run NetSeries on both the internet and your intranet. In bandwidth/connection terms this is the most efficient option. However, the disadvantage is that you end up with your content, and your results data, spread across two servers.

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