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About the UltraKey 5.0
Data Server Software
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Last Updated: September 2007
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In
2005, Bytes of Learning released the first ever IP-based data
management system for instructional software. This page answers the
most frequently asked questions about this new technology: |
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What is the
Server Software? |
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The
UltraKey 5.0 Data Server Software is an application that runs as a
background service on a Windows computer. The Server Software
communicates with copies of UltraKey 5.0 running on Windows and Mac
computers. |
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What are the technical requirements? |
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The
Server Software may be installed on any PC with Windows 2000, 2003, XP
or
WIN7(32 Bit). The PC does not have to be a server and it does not have to
be dedicated to the UltraKey Server Software. |
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What does the
Server Software
do? |
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The
Server Software receives information from running copies of UltraKey
5.0 and sends information back to those copies as students and teachers
use the UltraKey 5.0 instructional program. |
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The
Server Software stores information by writing files in its local
directory. According to a schedule set by the administrator, the Server
Software backs up the files to a designated directory, ensuring that
precious records are not lost. |
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How does the
Server Software
work? |
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The
Server Software communicates with copies of UltraKey 5.0 using Internet
Protocol ("IP"). IP communication consists of packets of information
that travel across networks, wide area networks and the Internet. Email
programs, anti-virus programs, and update managers all use IP. |
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The
Server Software "listens" for data requests and responds, handling
thousands of such requests every minute. Once the Server Software is
running, which takes minutes to achieve, users can forget it's there! |
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Does the
Server Software
bog down
computers? |
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The
Server software itself requires very little processing power. It can be
installed on a teacher workstation and manage the whole school's use of
UltraKey. Meanwhile, the teacher can continue to use the same
workstation for any other purpose at the same time.
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At
each student workstation, the IP-based communication that occurs
between UltraKey and its Data Server Software is all characters and
numbers and no graphics, so the communication activity is not noticable. |
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What is unique about the
UltraKey Data
Server Software? |
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Bytes
of Learning's Server Software has been engineered to handle thousands
of student users and teacher users simultaneously with no noticable
slow down. Extensive error handling intelligence makes the service
extremely robust. |
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Bytes of Learning's Server Software encrypts all communications so sensitive student information cannot be intercepted. |
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How does the
Server Software
benefit schools
and districts? |
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Since
one installation of the Server Software can serve an entire school
district, the total cost of ownership is extremely low. Security is no
longer a concern because nobody has access to the central data or the
server that contains it. |
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UltraKey
communicates with the Server Software so students and teachers can
easily log in to their accounts from any workstation, anywhere. If the
district permits access from home, teachers can manage their classes at
their leisure. Students can continue learning at home while being
tracked at school. |
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How do home users connect to the school? |
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To
allow secure communication from outside the school, UltraKey can create
a connection key, which is an encrypted file for home users. Users
connect by double-clicking the connection key file. This starts
UltraKey, which interprets the encrypted connection information and
automatically locates the Data Server Software. Users then operate
UltraKey like they never left the school site. |
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What if we don't
want home users
to connect? |
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If
the school or district does not want home-to-school connections, then
don't use this capability and do not distribute a connection key. |
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The
Server Software provides many benefits without connecting to homes. We
only mention the home connection possibility because it is made
possible by this technology. |
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How is the
Server Software
implemented? |
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One
installation of the Data Server Software serves the entire site or
district. If communication will occur through a wide area network or
the Internet, then port 5976 must be opened in the firewall of the PC
on which the Server Software is installed. An external IP address must
be mapped to the internal IP address of the serving PC. |
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If you are installing the Data Server Software to serve one school, it can be installed on any PC that is part of the network. |
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Does opening
a firewall port
reduce security? |
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On
every computer, certain ports must be open for any communication to
occur between the computer and the rest of the world. By industry
standard, some ports are open by default so the computer can network,
browse the Internet and pick up email. Opening a port for UltraKey is a
legitimate procedure agreed on by the computer industry. Hackers cannot
access a computer through a firewall port and a computer is no less
secure for having opened a particular port. |
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We're a Mac
school. How can
we use this
software? |
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The
Data Server Software communicates with UltraKey on Mac and Windows.
Even when the school does not have a Windows server, the Data Server
software can be installed on any PC. |
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If
an all-Mac school has access to any Windows PC anywhere, then the
problem is solved. Some all-Mac schools have reinstated an unused PC or
they have gotten the co-operation of the school or district office to
install the Data Server Software on a PC or Server located there. Some
all-Mac schools install the Server Software on the Windows partition of
an Intel Mac.
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Are there plans
for a Mac
version? |
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Bytes
of Learning intends to release a Unix-based Data Server application,
which would provide all-Mac schools with an all-Mac solution. No
specific date has been set. In the meantime, we suggest the above
strategies so all-Mac schools can enjoy the best available services
regardless of whether a Mac-based server solution is available. |
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Can we install
the Server
Software on a
Novell server? |
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The
Data Server Software does not work on a Novell server. However, the
Server Software can operate on any workstation or PC connected to the
Novell network. |
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The
only requirement is that the Server Software must be on a computer that
has a fixed IP address because UltraKey remembers the Server Software
location by its IP address. |
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How can we
test the Server
Software before
we buy? |
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Schools
and districts may request a trial license and download the software.
Schools are welcome to install and test the UltraKey Data Server
Software to whatever extent they need. For multiple schools, please
contact us for a key that permits this. |
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We provide full technical support through the testing period and thereafter. |
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How do we
purchase the
Server Software? |
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The
UltraKey 5.0 Data Server Software and license are provided with any
Network IP edition of UltraKey 5.0. The Server Software is included
with all unlimited site licenses including the one-year site license
currently offered through this web site and all resellers. |
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If you own UltraKey 4.0 or a Standalone Plus edition of UltraKey 5.0, contact our customer service department to request an upgrade quote . Please provide details about your current license so we can better assist you. |
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What if we
have other
questions? |
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Please feel free to contact us at 1(888)881-6001 and discuss your particular situation in more detail.
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If
you have a software selection team or you need to satisfy the concerns
of several departments in the school or district, we are pleased to
arrange an Internet conference with all your colleagues at a mutually
acceptable time. |
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Like Us
(888) 881-6001 