Moodle Administrator’s 411 System design and requirements, administration tasks, challenges and strategies for success! Northside ISD, San Antonio Amanda Hefner , Academic Technology Analyst Lisa Gerlich , Technical Manager Jenny Yim , eClasses Project Manager, Online Staff Development Aldine ISD, Houston, Texas Raylene Truxton , District Coordinator for On-line Learning

Presenter Profiles

District Profiles NORTHSIDE ISD Large school district Over 12,000 Employees Over 88,000 Students ALDINE ISD Large school district 8,000 Employees 60,000 Students 82% At Risk Primary Moodling: Staff Development Virtual School Credit Recovery

NORTHSIDE ISD

Large school district

Over 12,000 Employees

Over 88,000 Students

ALDINE ISD

Large school district

8,000 Employees

60,000 Students

82% At Risk

Primary Moodling:

Staff Development

Virtual School

Credit Recovery

NISD Moodles 2109 Users/Mostly Students Will have 700 Students 10,222 Users/All Staff 11540 Users/All Staff

Moodle Instances & Admins NORTHSIDE ISD (Internal) eCLASSROOM Hybrid & Online HS Courses eLEARN Professional Tech . Development eCLASSES Professional Development eCOMM Public Courses & Outreach NTSC New Teacher Training SANDBOXES (7+) 1 x Each Instance + New Version Tests 2 SYSTEMS ADMINS 40% 1 SITE ADMIN 70% 1 SITE ADMIN 70% Just Launched http://Parent411.nisd.net

NORTHSIDE ISD (Internal)

Aldine ISD Moodles

Moodle Instances & Admins ALDINE ISD (Hosted) AISD ONLINE Hybrid & Online HS Courses VIRTUAL SCHOOL Online HS Courses SANDBOX Hybrid & Online HS Courses 2 SITE ADMIN 70% 3 rd PARTY SYSTEM ADMIN (Remote Learner)

Recommended Reading Moodle Administration By Alex Büchner An administrator's guide to configuring, securing, customizing, and extending Moodle http://www.packtpub.com

What’s IN the Book? > What’s NOT In The Book??

Admininstrator Skills & Tasks Getting Started Tasks Administrator Tasks & Recommended Skillset Getting Started Tasks: Installation, Planning Updates, Backups, etc.

Admininstrator Skills & Tasks Getting Started Tasks

Administrator Tasks & Recommended Skillset

Getting Started Tasks: Installation, Planning Updates, Backups, etc.

Administrator Role & Responsibilities Work closely with Admins of IT systems, databases, & networks Provide access & permissions to users Provide facilities for effective online instruction and communication.

Work closely with Admins of IT systems, databases, & networks

Provide access & permissions to users

Provide facilities for effective online instruction and communication.

Main Admin Tasks User Account Management Course/Category Management Module Management Interface & Theme Design Year-start & -end Maintenance Network Instances User Support (staff & learners) System Security, Performance, & Stability Site & Course Backups Monitoring & Reports System Maintenance & Upgrades

User Account Management

Course/Category Management

Module Management

Interface & Theme Design

Year-start & -end Maintenance

Network Instances

User Support (staff & learners)

System Security, Performance, & Stability

Site & Course Backups

Monitoring & Reports

System Maintenance & Upgrades

Recommended Skill Set: a Technical background some system or database administration knowledge working knowledge of operating system , underlying DATABASE , network , and other components PHP, HTML, and CSS programming knowledge It is not necessary to be an expert in these areas. However, a general understanding, ability to search online sources for solutions, modify existing code, and write query statements will be most beneficial. There’s plenty of books to get started!

a Technical background

some system or database administration knowledge

working knowledge of operating system , underlying DATABASE , network , and other components

PHP, HTML, and CSS programming knowledge

It is not necessary to be an expert in these areas. However, a general understanding, ability to search online sources for solutions, modify existing code, and write query statements will be most beneficial.

There’s plenty of books to get started!

New Hire Test Questions MySQL Statements PHP Code

Getting Started…

Installation & Setup Installation Considerations Flexibility - How much control do you want/need? Scalability - How many concurrent users? Cost - Do you have infrastructure, people, and resources for in-house? In-house expertise Compatibility with legacy systems Existing resources

Installation Considerations

Flexibility - How much control do you want/need?

Scalability - How many concurrent users?

Cost - Do you have infrastructure, people, and resources for in-house?

In-house expertise

Compatibility with legacy systems

Existing resources

Version Level Updates Backups Make System Level copies of: Moodle software directory – code and config files Set in php.ini Data directories – course & site content files Mysql Database – mysql dump Be sure to do all Individual Course Backup before upgrading

Backups

Make System Level copies of:

Moodle software directory – code and config files

Set in php.ini

Data directories – course & site content files

Mysql Database – mysql dump

Be sure to do all Individual Course Backup before upgrading

Version Level Updates Test Updates in a Sandbox Environment Take your time! Have a sandbox instance of the new version so people can test migration of critical courses and fix problems before the update Expect the Unexpected Problems may still arise due to: How a certain module is used differently by various teachers Add-on modules may be written for different core versions

Test Updates in a Sandbox Environment

Take your time!

Have a sandbox instance of the new version so people can test migration of critical courses and fix problems before the update

Expect the Unexpected

Problems may still arise due to:

How a certain module is used differently by various teachers

Add-on modules may be written for different core versions

Version Level Update Methods Decent Method Rename old core folder Install new core – not over the old core! Copy any customized files such as config.php, customized themes, and local language packs Install add-on modules Deal with any customizations you have done to the moodle code

Decent Method

Rename old core folder

Install new core – not over the old core!

Copy any customized files such as config.php, customized themes, and local language packs

Install add-on modules

Deal with any customizations you have done to the moodle code

Version Level Update Methods Better Use CVS PLAN AHEAD! Must initialize existing core version with CVS before new version can utilize CVS to upgrade During the install the CVS method will detect any changes you have made to the code and save the file as .# filename.version

Better

Use CVS

PLAN AHEAD! Must initialize existing core version with CVS before new version can utilize CVS to upgrade

During the install the CVS method will detect any changes you have made to the code and save the file as .# filename.version

Version Level Update Methods Best Utilize Moodle-Net Have the old instance and the new instance in the same moodle-net This will allow a gradual migration of courses to the new version (1 at a time for verification) Delete the old instance once all the courses have been migrated

Best

Utilize Moodle-Net

Have the old instance and the new instance in the same moodle-net

This will allow a gradual migration of courses to the new version (1 at a time for verification)

Delete the old instance once all the courses have been migrated

Category & Course Mgmt. Set views for Guest & Authenticated users Hide Guest Access button if authentication required Set permissions for Category creation only Admins manage top-level categories; Creators & Teachers manage sub-categories Metacourses as "libraries" for shared resources “ Sandbox” courses for each new teacher/creator Issue: Many Sandboxes abandoned, but still backed up on server for months... Enforce Course Enrollment Key requirement

Set views for Guest & Authenticated users

Hide Guest Access button if authentication required

Set permissions for Category creation

only Admins manage top-level categories; Creators & Teachers manage sub-categories

Metacourses as "libraries" for shared resources

“ Sandbox” courses for each new teacher/creator

Issue: Many Sandboxes abandoned, but still backed up on server for months...

Enforce Course Enrollment Key requirement

User Management

User Management & Profiles Profile Management Pre-populate fields with external DB, such as LDAP Lock fields Bulk Upload data & photos Caution – when linking to external systems with varied data structures SITE Authentication vs. COURSE Enrollment Be aware of Site Users that are NOT Enrolled !

Profile Management

Pre-populate fields with external DB, such as LDAP

Lock fields

Bulk Upload data & photos

Caution – when linking to external systems with varied data structures

SITE Authentication vs. COURSE Enrollment

Be aware of Site Users that are NOT Enrolled !

Forms of SITE Authentication Manual Authentication (by Admin) Add Individual Users (fake or guest accts.) Bulk-Upload Users & Photos Self-Registration by Email Confirmation LDAP Server Authentication External Moodle or Database Authentication Internal Moodle Authentication No Login - to suspend user accounts No Authentication - anyone can enter the site MoodleNet - user auth. is passed from one instance to another

Manual Authentication (by Admin)

Add Individual Users (fake or guest accts.)

Bulk-Upload Users & Photos

Self-Registration by Email Confirmation

LDAP Server Authentication

External Moodle or Database Authentication

Internal Moodle Authentication

No Login - to suspend user accounts

No Authentication - anyone can enter the site

MoodleNet - user auth. is passed from one instance to another

Forms of COURSE Enrollment Internal (by Teacher) Manual role assignment in a course Course Enrollment Key (1 per course) Group enrollment keys (many per course) Database-driven Enrollment LDAP External DB source Flat File IMS Enterprise File Paid Enrollment (PayPal, etc.)

Internal (by Teacher)

Manual role assignment in a course

Course Enrollment Key (1 per course)

Group enrollment keys (many per course)

Database-driven Enrollment

LDAP

External DB source

Flat File

IMS Enterprise File

Paid Enrollment (PayPal, etc.)

Enrollment Keys : 1 Course Single Course Key Separate Group Keys in Same Course (Recommended)

Look & Feel

Look & Feel Front Page Customization Guest User View vs. Authenticated User View Assign a Front Page designer Force My Moodle entry page Moodle Themes Set Themes by Site, Category, Course, User, Session (preview) Skills for Modification: HTML, PHP, CSS Recommendation: Stick to "standard-based" themes for compatibility Course Design / Organization Provide course design templates (empty course backup) for teachers Teachers simply restore as a new course Publish a design guide to include tips on: Avoid DIRTY CODE caused by copy/pasting from Microsoft apps >:( Improve File Size & Optimization Methods for Adding Media - size, conversions, link/embed/insert... Copyright / TOU Policy - institution v. individual's copyrights

Front Page Customization

Guest User View vs. Authenticated User View

Assign a Front Page designer

Force My Moodle entry page

Moodle Themes

Set Themes by Site, Category, Course, User, Session (preview)

Skills for Modification: HTML, PHP, CSS

Recommendation: Stick to "standard-based" themes for compatibility

Course Design / Organization

Provide course design templates (empty course backup) for teachers

Teachers simply restore as a new course

Publish a design guide to include tips on:

Avoid DIRTY CODE caused by copy/pasting from Microsoft apps >:(

Improve File Size & Optimization

Methods for Adding Media - size, conversions, link/embed/insert...

Copyright / TOU Policy - institution v. individual's copyrights

DIRTY CODE!

Security

Security Beyond The Moodle Instance HTTPS Logins IP Based Firewalls Rule Based Appliances that watch the network for attacks ModSecurity: an open source web application firewall that detects and prevents attacks before they reach web applications Installed as an Apache plugin on individual servers Standalone Appliance for larger installations is an open source web application firewall

HTTPS Logins

IP Based Firewalls

Rule Based Appliances that watch the network for attacks

ModSecurity: an open source web application firewall that detects and prevents attacks before they reach web applications

Installed as an Apache plugin on individual servers

Standalone Appliance for larger installations

Site Configuration Accessibility Code in Standard Theme Screen readers Localization Languages, Time Zones, etc. Module Configuration Activities, Blocks, Filters Test with Debugging Check compatibility with core version Filters Applied top-down – bad sequence can cause issues Test filters on Everything! Grades & Gradebook settings Language Packs Editing strings Tracking editing strings for upgrades (save “en_local” files)

Accessibility

Code in Standard

Theme Screen readers

Localization

Languages, Time Zones, etc.

Module Configuration

Activities, Blocks, Filters

Test with Debugging

Check compatibility with core version

Filters

Applied top-down – bad sequence can cause issues

Test filters on Everything!

Grades & Gradebook settings

Language Packs

Editing strings

Tracking editing strings for upgrades (save “en_local” files)

Test the Filters on Everything! EXAMPLE: Word Censorship Filter scanned 3 of 4 modules correctly….Oops!

Need to Know: Communication Paths EXAMPLE: Which modules use the mail server?

Who can email/chat/IM who…? Need to Know: Communication Paths

Need to Know: Communication Paths

Monitoring & Reporting User Activity

Tracking Bugs with Moodle Moodle “Tracker” Module Allow users to post support requests Delegate to System/Site Admins Maintain record of changes/fixes

Moodle “Tracker” Module

Allow users to post support requests

Delegate to System/Site Admins

Maintain record of changes/fixes

Tracking Bugs with Moodle

Monitoring User Activity Moodle Activity Reporting Datasets: Who (user), What (action), When (timestamp), Where (IP address) Activity Logs - by Site, Course, User, Activity (assignment) Statistics - calculated views/posts by Site, Course, Teacher, Students 3rd Party Reporting Tools Google Analytics Navicat for MySQL

Moodle Activity Reporting

Datasets: Who (user), What (action), When (timestamp), Where (IP address)

Activity Logs - by Site, Course, User, Activity (assignment)

Statistics - calculated views/posts by Site, Course, Teacher, Students

3rd Party Reporting Tools

Google Analytics

Navicat for MySQL

Reporting with Moodle Moodle Activity Logs & Statistics

Moodle Activity Logs & Statistics

Reporting with Navicat Relational DB Design > Reports

Relational DB Design > Reports

Navicat: The Truth Serum Teacher reports a student's file is missing, but log shows user uploaded Checking the MoodleData folder for the course reveals the file was present, but a data error occurred on upload timestamp... Teacher reports students have lost content on their wiki pages Wiki history is extensive, so SQL export of wiki page content reveals copy/paste from MS Word has dirty HTML code interfering with content presentation.

Teacher reports a student's file is missing, but log shows user uploaded

Checking the MoodleData folder for the course reveals the file was present, but a data error occurred on upload timestamp...

Teacher reports students have lost content on their wiki pages

Wiki history is extensive, so SQL export of wiki page content reveals copy/paste from MS Word has dirty HTML code interfering with content presentation.

Navicat: The Truth Serum Teacher notices student work is turned in from IP address other than District's and during class hours. IP Address happens to match Mom's workplace, and timestamps match student's 3rd period History class... Student insists they have read all material and turned in projects Student Profile Log shows student's last access was 13 days ago...Activity Log shows student never accessed the page Student reports they attempted to log in 20 times between 8:00AM and 10:00AM Site Error Log reveals that only 3 unsuccessful logins occurred during that timeframe, only one username matching theirs.

Teacher notices student work is turned in from IP address other than District's and during class hours.

IP Address happens to match Mom's workplace, and timestamps match student's 3rd period History class...

Student insists they have read all material and turned in projects

Student Profile Log shows student's last access was 13 days ago...Activity Log shows student never accessed the page

Student reports they attempted to log in 20 times between 8:00AM and 10:00AM

Site Error Log reveals that only 3 unsuccessful logins occurred during that timeframe, only one username matching theirs.

Performance Optimization

Hardware Resources Get as much memory as possible – have as much RAM as your hardware will allow, as your operating system can use and your boss will buy The more RAM your system has, the more processes [and threads] Apache can allocate and use; which directly translates into the amount of concurrent requests/clients Apache can serve Larger installations will want to put the database on a separate server One database server can be used for many moodle instances

Get as much memory as possible – have as much RAM as your hardware will allow, as your operating system can use and your boss will buy

The more RAM your system has, the more processes [and threads] Apache can allocate and use; which directly translates into the amount of concurrent requests/clients Apache can serve

Larger installations will want to put the database on a separate server

One database server can be used for many moodle instances

Performance Tools ApacheTop http://freshmeat.net/projects/apachetop/ MySQLTuner http:// MySQLTuner.com Web Application Stress Testing http://www.webload.org/

ApacheTop

http://freshmeat.net/projects/apachetop/

MySQLTuner

http:// MySQLTuner.com

Web Application Stress Testing

http://www.webload.org/

Apache Performance The big question: How many child processes should be kept active while waiting for requests? Considerations Each child process consumes a certain amount of memory Each child process only accepts on connection at a time There is overhead when a new child process is spawned MaxClients Limits the number of children Apache spawns to handle requests Set to the number of child processes the servers memory can handle. Be sure to leave enough memory for the operating system and other processses MaxSpareServers How many “extra” httpd processes are allowed to live to be ready to service requests MinSpareServers: What is the minimum number of spare httpd processes Should be a number high enough to satisfy sudden bursts of requests

The big question:

How many child processes should be kept active while waiting for requests?

Considerations

Each child process consumes a certain amount of memory

Each child process only accepts on connection at a time

There is overhead when a new child process is spawned

MaxClients

Limits the number of children Apache spawns to handle requests

Set to the number of child processes the servers memory can handle. Be sure to leave enough memory for the operating system and other processses

MaxSpareServers

How many “extra” httpd processes are allowed to live to be ready to service requests

MinSpareServers:

What is the minimum number of spare httpd processes

Should be a number high enough to satisfy sudden bursts of requests

PHP Acceleration Moodle is written in php A PHP accelerator is an extension designed to boost the performance of software applications written using the PHP programming language PHP Acceleration caches the compiled PHP script in memory instead of parsing and compiling source code on each request There are many PHP accelerators available We use xcache http://xcache.lighttpd.net/

Moodle is written in php

A PHP accelerator is an extension designed to boost the performance of software applications written using the PHP programming language

PHP Acceleration caches the compiled PHP script in memory instead of parsing and compiling source code on each request

There are many PHP accelerators available

We use xcache http://xcache.lighttpd.net/

… CONTACT US…… Northside ISD, San Antonio Amanda Hefner , Academic Technology Analyst [email_address] Lisa Gerlich , Systems Administrator [email_address] Jenny Yim , eClasses Project Manager, Online Staff Development Aldine ISD, Houston, TX Raylene Truxton , District Coordinator for On-line Learning [email_address]