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Technical FAQs:

Click on the question that best suits your needs.

1. What do I need to do to set up my school labs to participate in the Alaska Computerized formative Assessments DRC/CAL test?
2. How do I know if I need to install a LCS or not?
3. What are the system requirements to install the CAL software?
4. How do I install the CAL software on my computers?
5. Do I need administrative privileges on my computers to install the CAL software?
6. Where is the default location of the installed CAL software application?
7. Where is the default location of the shortcuts for the application?
8. Once installed, how do I run the CAL software?
9. What is the Preferences program?
10. Where do I find, and how do I run the Preferences program?
11. How do I enable the Speech feature of CAL?
12. Does CAL support Proxy servers and proxy server authentication?
13. What are the "Debug" and "Log File" panels in the Preferences Program?
14. Does CAL support secure Internet communication?
15. What port needs to be open for the CAL software to work properly?
16. When the CAL application is opened, a new update is being deployed but it always fails.
17. How can I get the updates of the CAL software?
18. Using Window Installer-based patches to deploy CAL updates using Software Installation and Active Directory Group Policy
19. Receiving error messages while students are testing.
20. What are the url(s) for the servers that the CAL software connects to?
21. Mac 10.4 problems with a blank screen.

LCS FAQs:

1. What is the CAL Local Caching Server (CAL LCS)?
2. What are the benefits of using LCS?
3. Can I move the CAL LCS application to a different system in my school?
4. What happens to the test data and student responses in the event of a crash of the system running CAL LCS 2.0?

Answers:

1. What do I need to do to set up my school labs to participate in the Alaska Computerized formative Assessments DRC/CAL test? There are two ways to configure your computer labs to participate in the ACFA:
   • Case 1, figure 1: ACFA CAL testing on-line. This is the easiest way to configure your lab to be ready for the CAL testing. In this case all you need to do is install the CAL test delivery software in each of the computers to be used for CAL testing. The rest of the FAQs will give you more information on the system requirements and how to configure the software to work properly.
   • Case 2, figure 2: CAL testing with Local Caching Server (LCS). In this scenario you will need to install the CAL test delivery engine in each computer to be used for CAL testing (as indicated in case 1), and you will also need to install the LCS software in one of your school computers. In this scenario, each CAL end client will need to be configured to work with the LCS. See section on the Local Caching Server below to learn how to configure your lab to use the LCS.
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2. How do I know if I need to install a LCS or not?
   • For many schools, the simple set up without the LCS works fine. But for some schools that have limited bandwidth and need to test large number of students simultaneously, the LCS might be a good idea. For instance, our experience shows that a school with a T1 connection should be able to test up to 150 students simultaneously without a LCS.
   • If you are not sure if you need to install the LCS, you can set up your lab without the LCS and if your students experience some long delays while loading their tests, you can then install the LCS and configure the end clients to work with the LCS.
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3. What are the system requirements to install the CAL software?
   • Refer to system requirements.
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4. How do I install the CAL software on my computers?
   • Go to the Download Center, and download the CAL software, and follow the installation instructions.
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5. Do I need administrative privileges on my computers to install the CAL software?
   • Yes, to install the CAL software on computers that support multiple users, you need to login to your computers as a user that has privileges to install new software.
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6. Where is the default location of the installed CAL software application?
   • For Windows the default location of the installation is C:\ProgramFiles\CAL\. For Macs the default location of the installation is the folder \Applications\CAL\.
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7. Where is the default location of the shortcuts for the application?
   • For Windows the default location of shortcuts is Start->Programs->CAL. Another shortcut is also placed on the desktop. For MAC users a shortcut to the application is placed on the desktop. A shortcut will also be placed in the folder \Applications\CAL\.
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8. Once installed, how do I run the CAL software?
   • In Windows, click the CAL shortcut on your desktop or use the CAL shortcut on Start->Programs->CAL on the start menu. On MAC systems, click on the CAL shortcut on the desktop or in the folder \Applications\CAL. Note that technical staff may decide to create shortcuts in different locations, in which case you need to instruct your students where to find the shortcuts in order to launch the CAL application.
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9. What is the Preferences program?
   • The Preferences program is an application included in the installation of the CAL software. This program can be used by technical staff in your school to configure features such as the speech feature, Local Caching Server, automatic updates, proxy servers, the use of SSL, and troubleshooting CAL problems with installation and testing.
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10. Where do I find, and how do I run the Preferences program?
    • For Windows users go to Start->Programs->CAL-> Preferences. On MAC systems go to the Preferences program located in the folder \Applications\CAL.
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11. How do I enable the Speech feature of CAL?
    • First make sure that your systems meet the minimum system requirements to run the speech feature. To enable the speech feature in CAL follow these steps:
    • • Open the CAL Preferences program.
      • Select the "Speech Settings" tab.
      • Enable the speech feature by selecting the speech check box and saving changes.
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12. Does CAL support Proxy servers and proxy server authentication?
    • Yes, the use of proxy servers and proxy server authentication is supported by the CAL software. CAL tries to automatically detect and use the proxy setting configured in your computer. In Windows systems the proxy settings are retrieved from the Windows registry: HKEY.CURRENT_USER\\Software\ \Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Internet Settings\\ProxyEnable and ProxyServer. If these values are not set, you will need to manually set the proxy setting using the "Preferences" program. In Mac OSX systems the proxy settings are retrieved from the Network manager. In most cases you will not need to worry about proxy settings, but if you need to manually edit them, follow these steps:
    • 1. Locate and open the Preferences program.
      2. In the Proxy Tab check "HTTP Proxy" box and fill in the http proxy host and proxy port (contact your system administrators to obtain this information).
      3. If you use a different proxy server for SSL communication, select the "Secure Proxy (HTTPS)" box and fill in the corresponding proxy host and proxy port (contact your system administrators to obtain this information).
      4. Click Apply or Ok.
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13. What are the "Debug" and "Log File" panels in the Preferences Program?
    • The Debug panel helps you troubleshoot problems with the CAL software. There are five different tests that are run to verify if your system is ready for CAL testing. The following are the tests available and possible actions to take in case of the test failure:
    • 1. Writing to Local File System: CAL application writes log messages to a file in the local file system: user_home\.alaska\cal-alaska.log, (for instance for Windows this is C:\Documents and Settings\user\.alaska\cal-alaska.log). This test tests if there are sufficient permissions for writing to this file. The failure of this test is not critical since CAL will still run, but messages will not be logged into the log file.
      2. DNS Tests:
      3. • Domain Name Lookup: This tests if there are any problems with CAL software locating your DNS server.
         • CAL Domain Name Lookup: This tests if your computer can reach the CAL central data servers by their domain name.
         • The passing of the above tests is critical for the correct operation of the CAL application. A failure indicates that there is a problem with the DNS servers at the schools and/or at the CAL servers. If you determine that this situation is not a local DNS problem, you will need to contact us.
      4. Connectivity Tests:
      5. • General Internet Connectivity: This tests if the schools are able to connect to the internet, which is essential for connecting to CAL central data center.
         • CAL Internet Connectivity: This tests if your computer is able to connect, in particular, to CAL servers.
         • The passing of the above tests is critical for CAL to operate properly.
      6. Log File Panel
      7. • The Log Panel displays the contents of the CAL log file (user_home\.alaska\cal-alaska.log). This file can be useful when troubleshooting the application. The panel displays at the maximum the last 500 lines of the log file.
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14. Does CAL support secure Internet communication?
    • Yes, CAL supports secure SSL communication. To set up computers to use SSL communication, follow these steps:
    • 1. Run the Preferences program as indicated previously.
      2. Select the Secure Connection tab.
      3. Check the Enable Secure Connection check box.
      4. Click Apply or Ok.
      5. Also make sure that your school network allows outgoing SSL communication on Port 443, and that your proxy server (if used) supports SSL communication.
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15. What port needs to be open for the CAL software to work properly?
    • You need to allow outgoing communication on port 80, and if you set up CAL to use SSL communication you will also need to allow outgoing communication on port 443.
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16. When the CAL application is opened, a new update is being deployed but it always fails.
    • You see this problem if the current user of the computer does not have privileges to update the software.
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17. How can I get the updates of the CAL software?
    • CAL has an automatic update feature that checks for updates every time CAL is launched. If an update is available, it will be automatically downloaded and deployed onto your computers. However, if your computers support multiple users (Windows NT, 2000, 2003, XP, MAC OS X), in order for the updates to be successfully deployed, the systems must be logged in by a user with privileges to write to the folder where the CAL software was installed (refer to question 7). The default installation of CAL sets permissions so that any user of the computer could automatically download and deploy available updates by simply running the CAL application.
    • It is important to mention that these default permission settings will also grant permissions to any user to delete or modify the CAL application. If you decide that this is not a good decision in your environment, you can manually restrict the permissions of the CAL installation folder; then, in order to get CAL updates when they become available, you will need to have a user with administrative privileges run the CAL application. There could also be systems or situations in which the default permission settings fail and users without administrative privileges will not be able to get the available updates. In this case you have three options:
    • 1. Manually change permissions to the CAL installation folder so that all users have permissions to download and deploy the available updates.
      2. When updates are available, have a user with administrative privileges launch the CAL application so updates are automatically deployed.
      3. Windows users can use Window Installer-based patches to automatically deploy updates using Software Installation and Active Directory Group Policy. See next question.
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18. Using Window Installer-based patches to deploy CAL updates using Software Installation and Active Directory Group Policy
    • You also have the option of using patches for Windows Installer technology to deploy the CAL updates. When new updates are made available, a Windows Installer Patch for the update will also be made available at the Download Center. You will need to download and run the patch on your computer for the update to be deployed. Refer to the following link to learn more about Windows Installer:
      http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000pro/evaluate/featfunc/wispro.mspx
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19. Receiving error messages while students are testing.
    "Unable to connect to the central server. Please check your Internet connection. Contact your teacher or test administrator."
    "Your internet connection has been lost. Contact your teacher or test administrator to reactivate your password for this part of the test."
    "A system error has occurred. Contact your teacher or test administrator."
    "A system error has occurred. Contact your teacher or test administrator to reactivate your password for this part of the test."
    
    • Check if you have a proper Internet connection in the computers with the problem. If your connection is good, open your browser and go to http://alaska3.caltesting.org/test.jsp to test the communication to the CAL data center. If you get a "Success!" message, then try to run CAL again and take a practice test. If you still get the same results, open the CAL Preferences program to check if the CAL proxy settings are set correctly. You can also use the Debug Panel in the Preferences program to assist you with troubleshooting the problem.
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20. What are the url(s) for the servers that CAL connects to?
    • These are the URLs that the CAL software needs to connect to:
    • • http://alaska.caltesting.org
      • https://alaska.caltesting.org
      • http://alaska3.caltesting.org
      • https://alaska3.caltesting.org
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21. Mac 10.4 problems with a blank screen.
    • In very few situations we have experienced problems with Mac 10.4 systems randomly getting a blank screen when CAL is launched. We continue to work on a fix to this problem; but the current solution is to close the CAL application by using the X in the top corner and hitting the Enter or Return key. Then, reopen CAL again. This should clear the problem.
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LCS FAQs:

1. What is the CAL Local Caching Server (CAL LCS)?
   • CAL Local Caching Server (CAL LCS) is a system that increases the testing capacity of schools by optimizing the use of the external Internet bandwidth available to the school during CAL testing.
   • To start using the CAL Local Caching server you must first install the CAL LCS software in a local school server and configure each of the CAL end clients to use the caching server. Learn more and download LCS here.
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2. What are the benefits of using LCS?
   • Enables efficient utilization of local school bandwidth by caching CAL test data locally.
   • Allows students to continue testing by caching their responses locally in case of any connectivity issues to CAL central servers.
   • For information on whether the LCS will benefit your school, please click here.
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3. Can I move the CAL LCS application to a different system in my school?
   • Yes. Follow the steps below to move the CAL LCS 2.0 to a different system.
   • 1. Check there are no students taking the tests using CAL LCS 2.0
     2. Stop the CAL LCS 2.0 in your old system.
     3. Install the CAL LCS version 2.0 in the new system.
     4. In your old system the test data and student responses are stored in the LCS_Installation_folder / data.
     5. Copy all the contents from data folder in your old system into data folder in your new system.
     6. In your old system all the configuration files are stored in the LCS_Installation_folder / conf.
     7. Copy all the contents from conf folder in your old system into conf folder in your new system.
     8. Reconfigure the CAL testing engine to use the LCS 2.0 installed in the new system.
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4. What happens to the test data and student responses in the event of a crash of the system running CAL LCS 2.0?
   • CAL LCS 2.0 stores the test data and student responses in a database on the hard disk to prevent any data loss in the event of a system crash or failure. If you want to move CAL LCS 2.0 to a different server follow the same instructions given to move the CAL LCS 2.0 application to a new system.
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Contact Us: AKProject@datarecognitioncorp.com
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