Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

Chapter 6. Architecture considerations 67

(WAN), as well as a Virtual Private Network (VPN), if one exists. Implementing a

VPN solution is particularly important if frequent travel is required. It makes it

possible to accomplish administrative tasks while away from the office.

Table 6-1 has some suggestions for ways to set up remote access, including

advantages and disadvantages.

Table 6-1 Ways to setup remote access

6.2 Hardware right-sizing

Choosing the right hardware is a result of careful investigation into the size and

scope of your implementation. Right-sizing your hardware includes the physical

hardware as well as the considerations in choosing this hardware.

6.2.1 Hardware components

For the purposes of this section, hardware includes the physical server (or box)

and its components. The physical box is an important decision because it must

support the suggested components and have room for expansion.

Central processing unit (CPU)

We suggest using dual Pentium-class processors for each server in your

implementation. We make this suggestion for two very important reasons. FIrst,

dual processor machines can still function, as can the system, if one of the

processors fail. The system will be in a degraded state until such time as the

faulty processor can be replaced. Second, response time is better with a

Remote

application

Advantages Disadvantages Default

ports

PCAnywhere

v9.2 and v10

򐂰 FTP included

򐂰 Encryption

򐂰 Cost 5631 tcp

5632

udp

Ter minal

Services

(Windows

2000)

򐂰 Comparably quick

򐂰 Free with Windows 2000 Server

򐂰 Optional Internet Explorer interface

(ActiveX control)

򐂰 Encryption

򐂰 Cannot open Notes

Client or Domino

Console remotely

򐂰 Only for Windows

3389 tcp

VNC-ATT

3.3.3 R3

(listener),

3.3.3 R9

(client)

򐂰 Free, open source

򐂰 Compatible with most platforms

򐂰 Web-based client interface

򐂰 Lower reliability

򐂰 Security risk: no

encryption

򐂰 No support

5800 tcp

68 Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

dual-processor machine. Note, however, that more than two processors does not

improve performance appreciably.

Random access memory (RAM)

Memory consumption of a LearningSpace system depends on two parameters:

the number of courses in the system and the numbers of students

simultaneously logging on. As each of the two parameters increase, the memory

consumption also increases. In addition to the baseline memory requirements of

the Windows operating system components, there is a cost of 1 MB of memory

for each additional student logged on and 0.5 MB for each course added to the

system. For example, in a system that has 100 courses and 400 users logged

on, the memory consumption would be:

150 MB baseline + (100 x 0.5 MB) + (400 x 1 MB) = 600 MB

We suggest using at least two RAM cards in your LearningSpace servers. As is

the case with the CPU, your system can perform (albeit at a lower level of

performance) with one RAM card until it can be replaced.

Hard disks

The decision about physical space is determined by the amount of data that you

plan on adding to the server. Each implementation will be different. Be sure that

you add a RAID card to your server and use two hard disks at a minimum.

Setting up a RAID array will allow you to replace hard disks (if they fail) without

taking down your entire system.

Network Interface Cards (NICs)

Your NIC card is the port in the back of your server that connects your server to

the network. We suggest that your servers have dual NICs set up as Fault

Tolerant. If possible, attach each NIC to a different switch. This will provide

redundancy on both ends of your network cable. Furthermore, each NIC should

be set to a speed of 100 MB with the Duplex setting set to “full”.