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Installation of JClic in a network
There are two features of JClic that will allow us
to optimize its use
in the school network:
- To configure the reports system
JClic reports runs in the server and
carries out two functions: to compile information on the JClic activities
carried out by the students, and
to represent statistical reports based on the results of these activities.
- To use the same projects library from all the
computers
This will facilitate the management of the packages of activities:
they are installed once in the server and
become available to any computer connected to the network.
The first feature is explained in the instructions
of configuration of JClic reports.
Is advised to read them before continuing.
As you will have seen, there are two operation modes of JClic
reports:
standard (single Java application) and advanced (using
Tomcat). Some of the steps to follow now will depend on the chosen
mode.
Configuration of the server
We will make two tasks in the server: to share a folder and to create
a JClic projects library on it.
Creation of the shared folder
There are some examples of how to share a folder, both in standard
and advanced operation modes:
Standard operation mode:
- In Windows, if the server already
has a folder or a shared unit (for
example S: or C:\S),
we can create a subfolder S:\JClic or C:\S\JClic.
- Also in Windows, if we don't have any
generic shared resource, we can create a folder C:\JClic and
share it with the name "JClic".
- In Linux there are at least two systems of sharing folders: NFS (Network
File System) and SMB (Samba).
In bot, we can make use of an existing shared resource
creating a subfolder called "JClic" in it ,
or we can create a new folder and make it a shared
resource.
- In Mac OS X we can also share folders in an AppleTalk network
through AFP (Apple
Filing Protocol). In this
article you can read how to share a folder in read-only mode.
Advanced operation mode:
- If in the first part we have choose to use JClic reports in
the advanced operation mode (Linux + Tomcat + MySQL),
we can create a directory called "JClic" in the root of Tomcat, usually
located in /usr/share/tomcatx/webapps.
(where "x" is the version of Tomcat being used).
- Also if we have the Apache web server installed,
we can create the folder "JClic" in its root,
since Apache is more safe and efficient
that Tomcat serving static files.
Creation of the shared library of JClic projects
The steps to create the shared library of JClic projects are:
- Launch JClic player in
the server.
Note: If the server does
not have a graphic window manager,
launch JClic in another computer with read and write access to
the shared folder.
- Go to Tools - Libraries and click on New.
- In the dialog window, leave checked the option
Create new project library and click
on Ok.
- Select the "JClic" shared folder created in the previous step.
The program suggests to create in it a file named library.jclic.
Click on OK.
- You will see a new element in the list of libraries, named "New
project library". Select it, click on Edit and
change its name to "Shared
Library".
Installing JClic projects in the server
In the server, launch a browser, go to the library
of activities of the clicZone and install some
projects in the shared library that we have just created.
Also in the server, launch JClic and go to Tools - Libraries.
Select the shared library and click on Edit. Here
you can create folders and subfolders (for thematic
areas, for working projects, for groups...). You can also cut, copy
and paste the project icons in order to move it from one folder to
another.
Last details in the server
To prevent confusions, it can be convenient to eliminate all
the project libraries except the shared one. This can be done from
the JClic menu Tools - Libraries.
It is also advisable to assign a password to JClic,
in order to prevent unauthorized access to the configuration and management
of the library. This can be done from Tools - Settings - Security.
Configuration of the clients
The clients must be configurated one by one. The good news
are that we must to make it once.
Finding out the path to the shared library
We must start discovering how to reach the file library.jclic from
the network clients. Some examples are:
Standard operating mode:
- In Windows clients, the path will probably be:
\\nameoftheserver\S\JClic\library.jclic, or \\nameoftheserver\JClic\library.jclic.
- In Linux clients the shared unit must be mounted in order to be
available to JClic, through mount or smbmount.
Once gotten on, we will find the resource in a directory like /mnt/S/JClic/library.jclic (if
we are making use of a resource "S" that
we already had gotten on), or /mnt/JClic/library.jclic,
if we have created a specific mount point for the shared folder.
- In Mac OS X we can get on the volume from the Finder (menu Go -
Connect to the server).
Once gotten on, the library will be accessible in /Volumes/S/JClic/library.jclic,
or in /Volumes/JClic/library.jclic.
Advanced operating mode:
- If the server has
been configured in the advanced mode, Tomcat will
allow you to enter the library through the HTTP protocol.
The path will be a URL like:
http://nameoftheserver:XXXX/JClic/library.jclic
where nameoftheserver can be the name of
the server or its ip
address, and XXXX is
the port number where Tomcat is running. By
default it is 8180 for Tomcat 4 and 8080 for Tomcat
5.
- If the server has also Apache installed and you have decided
to create here the library folder, the URL will be similar
but with another port number (or without any port number
if Apache runs on port 80).
Configuring JClic
- In each of the network clients, launch JClic.
This can be made from the downloading
and installation page.
- Go to Tools - Settings - Libraries.
- Leave checked the box Automatically go to
libraries when JClic starts.
- Click on New and select the option Add a
link to an existing project library.
- In the File or URL field, write on the path to the file library.jclic that
we have found out in the previous step.
- Click on OK.
- Close JClic and check that wen starting it again we can access
to the shared library.
Last details in the clients
- It can be convenient to eliminate the "main Library" and to leave
only the "shared Library". This will avoid the dialog window that
always appears as JClic starts, prompting us which library we want
to load. It can
be suppressed from Tools -
Libraries.
- It can also be convenient to protect the configuration
with a password. This can be done in Tools
- Settings - Security.
Maintenance of the system
If new projects have to be installed or the structure
of the shared library has to be modified, by always making it from
the servant|server, since the customers
do not have laws|rights of writing.
It|He|She has to be taken
into account that for erasing an icon of the library (from the
menu Herramientas - Libraries
- To Edit) are not erased the files of its|his|her|their project.
These will continue in the folder of the library. Totally to eliminate
a project its|his|her|their folder
has to be suppressed manually.
Advanced functionality
In this document he|she|it has
explained itself|himself|herself as
creating only one shared library, but there can be other solutions,
as creating a specific library for every cycle or course. We have
also supposed that there is only one servant|server that
acts as servant|server of reports
and the library of projects houses. Evidently, these tasks can
be divided up among different computers also.
If the advanced modality has been opted for and the
library has been placed in the Apache servant|server,
and if this servant|server has exit
to Internet, your pupils|students will
be able to be connected also from home|house:
it will only be necessary that they start off JClic, go to Herramientas -
Libraries and think a new library noting|pointing the
corresponding URL (http://servidor.dominio/JClic/library.jclic).
Like this they will be able to work with the same projects as at
school.
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