31 Oct 11

Blackboard MergeDocstore BUG

This article describes an encountered bug in the Blackboard MergeDocstore tool. Please read the following background information first to fully understand the problem.

Because of the benefits of this tool we ran it for 2 or 3 Blackboard 9.1 environments. However, at the end it seemed that tool doesn’t work properly. The way the Blackboard Content System works is that each file in it gets a unique ID and is accessible with a so called Permanent URL. For example: http://bb.myinst.edu/bbcswebdav/xid-12735_1. These URL’s can be used to link to the file in Blackboard courses in the Learning System. The number after “xid-” is the file’s ID. The number after the underscore refers to one of the CS docstores (1=users, 2=courses, 3=orgs, 4=institution, 5=library).

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Posted in Blackboard, Bugs, Linux, Oracle, SQL Server, Windows by admin
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29 Sep 11

Scheduling the Disk Usage task within Blackboard 9.1

Since the release of Blackboard 9 the Disk Usage task is scheduled with a delay time after Tomcat has started:

  <task-entry key="bb.disk_usage" version="60">
    <task classname="blackboard.platform.course.DiskUsageTask">
      <property name="delay"       value="21600000" />
      <property name="period"      value="86400000" />
      <property name="active-days" value="30" />
    </task>
  </task-entry>

Because the time that Tomcat (re)starts is not always pre-defined (only in case of a auto-restart) this is a very annoying way to runs jobs that are as heavy as the Disk Usage task. You might end up with this task to run on the busiest moments of a normal school day.

At Stoas we’ve tested whether the old way (Bb 6 – Bb 8) still works on Bb 9 and this indeed seems the fact! In this way one can schedule the task on a moment that is appropriate for your institution. Here’s how the container in bb-tasks.xml[.bb] should look like:

  <task-entry key="bb.disk_usage" version="60">
    <task classname="blackboard.platform.course.DiskUsageTask">
      <property name="xml.registered.delay" value="1:00" />
      <property name="xml.registered.period" value="24" />
      <property name="active-days" value="30" />
    </task>
  </task-entry>

Make sure that this is first tested on a test server!

Posted in Blackboard, Quick Note, Tips & Tricks by admin
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11 May 11

Blackboard 9.1 – New Features and Enhancements Overview

I thought that it would be nice to have a good overview of all new features and enhancements of SP1 till SP5 of Blackboard Learn Release 9.1.

I created 6 documents that cover a specific topic so that there is a good overview per topic.

Of course, the information comes from the release notes per service pack.

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11 May 11

CRITICAL ISSUE Blackboard 9.1

Blackboard Support has identified a bug involving restored courses that have content listed in the Orphaned Content tool.  When using the tool to delete the orphaned records, the query is also deleting content in active courses.  We have identified the bug in issue #AS-156226 We have also submitted two patch requests for this issue for Service Pack 4 (#AS-159740) and Service Pack 5 (#AS-159741).

At this time, please discontinue use of the Content Orphaned by Location query.  You can monitor the issue through the KB article at http://kb.blackboard.com/display/KB/Restored+Courses+Have+Course+Directories+Listed+in+Search+Orphaned+Content+by+Location+Query.  As soon as the patches are available, the instructions and files will be attached to this article.

Posted in Blackboard, Bugs by admin
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28 Feb 11

Upcoming changes to supported technology in Blackboard Release 9.1 Service Packs

From the support bulletin of Blackboard Inc.:

Update – Notification of changes to supported technology coming in Release 9.1 Service Packs in 2011

We have three announcements regarding the removal of support for technologies that impact clients running or planning a move to Release 9.1.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 will no longer be supported starting with the release of 9.1 Service Pack 6 targeted for Q2 2011.

32-bit configurations will no longer be supported starting with the release of 9.1 Service Pack 8 targeted for Q4 2011.

Windows Server 2003 will no longer be supported starting with the release of 9.1 Service Pack 8 targeted for Q4 2011.

We realize these configurations are in use by many clients and require advance planning, which is why we are providing significant advanced notice.  Both 9.1 Service Pack 6 and Service Pack 8 include enhancements, therefore it made sense to adjust the supported technology stack.

Posted in Blackboard, Quick Note by admin
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22 Oct 10

Blocking servers using IPTABLES

Block all ports for a specific host:

root@server:~$ iptables -I INPUT -s 192.168.168.100 -j DROP

List all blocks

root@server:~$ iptables -L -n

Delete block for a specific host:

root@server:~$ iptables -D INPUT -s 192.168.168.100 -j DROP

Source: www.netadmintools.com

More info: Wikipedia

Posted in Linux, Quick Note, Security, Tips & Tricks by admin
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20 Aug 10

Blogging from my iPad

Ok, this is my first blogpost from my new iPad. Just checking out the WordPress app. Seems to work very easy.

I must say… I am really, REALLY exited about my iPad. This thing is so cool! The apps look nice, work fluently together and are very robust. Besides that it is a lot of fun to work on it! It might start to be nice to handle my corporate email in the evening…..

Ok, the thing seems a bit expensive but I realize that one gets value for money. I think I will use it a lot from now on.

Steve Jobs for president!

Posted in Uncategorized by admin
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29 Jul 10

Blackboard: slow query on browsing users to enroll

Today I created a support case at Blackboard about a slow query we found in Blackboard 9.1 SP1 when browsing users to enroll in a course. Below is a copy of that case.

CaseId:  769945
Summary:  Slow query on Oracle

Problem Description:
Hi support team,

We’ve encountered a slow query when using Blackboard on Oracle. The query is executed when one browses to find users to enroll (see Steps to Replicate).

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Posted in Blackboard, e-Learning, Linux, Oracle by admin
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11 Jun 10

Browser settings Blackboard

There’s a very comprehensive document about the required browser settings for running Blackboard without problems. However, that document cannot easily be found. Therefor I’ve created two PDF’s and attached them to this post.

Users running Internet Explorer: download
Users running Firefox: download

Source

Posted in Blackboard, Tips & Tricks by admin
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21 May 10

Blackboard Content System Command Line Tools

Yesterday I found out that it is easily possible to manage permissions for the courses in Blackboard’s Content System.

Since Blackboard release 9.1 all content is now stored in the Content System. Before that there were two storage locations: 1 for the so called Learning System content and one (well, actually 5) for the Content System content. It seems obvious to me to store all content in the same location.

However, imaging a Blackboard 8 course whereby (for what reason ever…) the Instructors don’t have permissions to upload content in the Content System area. After upgrading to Blackboard 9.1 the same Instructors are not able to upload content in the Learning System area too! This is because Blackboard tries to store the uploaded files in the Content System but the permissions haven’t changed during the upgrade. One will get the following error: No valid permission.

There is a very easy workaround. One can use the Blackboard System Command Line Tools as described in the Administrator Manual.

Have a look at the topic “How to change permissions for individual course directories” or “How to change permissions for the /courses directory“.

If you need help just send me a message.

Posted in Blackboard, Error report, Linux, Tips & Tricks, Windows by admin
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