Preparing to Install
From ADAM - Academic Data Management for Schools
In order to install ADAM, you will need to check your server environment carefully in order to see that the necessary requirements can be met.
Contents |
Server
Specifications
The server should have at least 100GB free storage space (to ensure the unhindered growth of the data). It will need at least 2GB of RAM for heavy usage (more is better). A server-spec machine or even a high-end desktop will be fine.
The server should have a Windows operating system. ADAM has been tested on Server 2003 (x86), Server 2008 (x64), Windows 7 (x86) and Windows 7 (x64).
Web Software
ADAM has PHP, Apache and MySQL as its foundation. Apache is a webserver and MySQL is a database.
ADAM needs a webserver to run from. If possible, ADAM should use a trusted SSL certificate and run over HTTPS to ensure that the data cannot get interfered with in transit. You should consider purchasing your certificates from a trusted provider such as Thawte or Verisign. While it is possible to get the same security using a self-signed certificate, end-users will encounter certificate errors in their browsers which may cause them alarm. Once the server is installed, a Certificate Signing Request can be issued for the certificate purchasing process.
Your server should thus be capable of running a web service on port 80 or 443 (preferred). If you are already running any other web services on your server, ADAM will need to use an unused port. If you use a different port, remember to open this port up on your firewall.
Access
Because ADAM is web based, it is remarkably easy for it to be exposed beyond the school's internal infrastructure and used on the wider Internet.
You will need to decide on a domain name (such as adam.yourschool.co.za) and create a DNS record inside your internal network so that clients who request this address from inside the school will be directed to your local server.
Secondly, you will need to request your ISP to add a DNS record for adam.yourschool.co.za to point to your firewall. The firewall will need to be configured either by using port-forwarding or URL filters to redirect your request to the ADAM server. This normally takes 24 hours to propagate, so could easily be done in advance.
Addresses Required
ADAM must configured with a number of e-mail addresses for use in different scenarios:
- Administrator: This e-mail address receives a copy of all e-mail sent by ADAM for logging and monitoring purposes.
- Default Return: An address that ADAM will use by default for all returned mail unless another address can be determined by the system.
- School Address: An address that is displayed whenever ADAM needs to show a school e-mail address.
Bulk Mailing
ADAM makes extensive use of e-mail, and a local SMTP server will be necessary. Ensure that the ADAM server is approved for relaying. This will allow it to send mail to non-local recipients.
ADAM can, optionally, authenticate to your SMTP server if this is required.
Mail Logging
One of ADAM's features is to scan a mailbox and match up the locally stored mail with any parents e-mail addresses and maintain a record of this communication. While this leverages a feature of Exchange servers to archive any mail processed in a mail store in a specific mailbox, this functionality may be present on other servers. If you wish to make use of this feature, you will need to configure a mailbox which will receive a copy of any of the mail processed by that mail store.
Authentication
ADAM has two methods of external authentication for staff and pupils.
Active Directory
Staff and pupils can make use of Active Directory authentication. In this instance, ADAM will pass the username and password that were entered to see if they can be authenticated against a local Domain Controller server. If the server is happy with their login, then the login will be approved.
You will need to know what your account suffix is (normally something like @domain.local) and a list of domain controllers.
POP3
Staff and pupils can also make use of POP3 authentication. In this instance, ADAM will pass the username and password that were entered to see if they can be authenticated against a local POP3 server. If the server is happy with their login, then the login will be approved.
If you wish to make use of this authentication, you will need to know the IP address of the POP3 server.
