System Requirements
Web Browser Settings:
- Pop-up blocking software must be disabled or set to allow pop-ups from http://www.letsgolearn.com
- Cookies must be enabled
Screen Settings:
- 800 x 600 or higher screen resolution is recommended
- Screen colors should be set to a minimum (16 bit)
Audio Settings:
- Sound should be enabled on the computer and be audible to the user
- Learn how to check your sound settings here
Compatibility Chart
| PLATFORM | OPERATING SYSTEM | BROWSERS | MACROMEDIA FLASH | ADOBE ACROBAT READER |
| PC | Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 7 |
Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher Netscape 6.1 or higher Firefox (all versions) |
Free Macromedia Flash plug-in installed in the web browser. Version 5.0 or higher * Unique Reader/Math requires version 7.0 or higher |
For teachers who will be viewing reports, the free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required, version 5.05 or later. The PDF viewer plug-in must be installed. |
| Macintosh | Macintosh OS 9 and OS X |
Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher (IE is recommended) Netscape 6.1 or higher Safari and Firefox - all versions free |
Macromedia Flash plug-in installed in the web browser. Version 5.0 or higher * Unique Reader/Math requires version 7.0 or higher |
For teachers who will be viewing reports, the free Adobe Acrobat Reader is required, version 5.1 or later. The PDF viewer plug-in must be installed. Newer operating systems may require later versions of Acrobat |
* OS X by default uses the Apple PDF viewer even if Acrobat Reader is installed. This Apple PDF viewer will NOT open the reports. Follow this link for instructions in using OS X and Acrobat.
NETWORK/BANDWIDTH REQUIREMENTS
Overview: Internet bandwidth needs are based upon the number of users who are taking assessments concurrently from your site. The initial start-up of assessments uses the most bandwidth. Once students are in the middle of an assessment, bandwidth needs decrease. Network quality must be sufficient to avoid packet loss when multiple computers are assessing students. Generally, modern network equipment (<3 years old) should be adequate.
Check your bandwith at this site (choose the San Francisco Server): http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
Internet connection requirements:
- DSL, Cable, Satellite, or WiFi Broadband internet connection.
- Internet connection speeds of 1.5M/256K or higher are recommended, though this requirement may vary based on your overall network needs.
Local Area Network requirements:
- LAN, including routers, switches, and network cards, should be 100mBit or greater.
- All labs using the assessments must be on switches, not hubs.
- Chaining a switch into a single port of another switch is not advised unless both switches have 100mBit capacity and are running at full duplex.
- Any old or unusual network configurations may cause network collisions and result in packet loss. This will make the assessment seem as if it is freezing, when in reality, packet loss is preventing the data from reaching the computer running the assessment.
Standard Bandwidth Guidelines:
Single Lab Usage (assuming 30 computers) Mbits/sec
- Normal usage 0.36
- Normal-High usage 0.56
- Spike peak usage* 1.16
Multiple Lab Usage (assuming 100 computers) Mbits/sec
- Normal usage 1.28
- Normal-High usage 2
- Spike peak usage* 2.92
* Labs do not have to meet spike usage needs. This spike may happen if all students start an assessment at once. You may experience a pause of 2 to 10 seconds if your network bandwidth isn't large enough; however, this is considered acceptable at start-up.
Final note: Not conforming to the guidelines above doesn't mean the assessment will not run smoothly. Each network configuration is unique and may need to be assessed further if performance is affected. If there is suspicion of weakness in any area, we suggest you run our online flash test to identify any weaknesses before conducting multiple assessments.
Support document 066
Tags: bandwidth, tester, test, download speed, network, lab, specifications 066
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