computer based examinations - acca faqcbefaq.accaglobal.com/sites/default/files/v24 0...

V24.0 Last updated 22 September 2017

Computer Based Examinations

CBE V24.0 Installation Instructions – New CBE Centres

This document is intended for new centres that are installing the complete ACCA CBE system for the first time. If you are an existing centre, installing the latest versions of the ACCA CBE software to ensure exams run after 20 September 2017, please

refer to the document CBE V24.0 Installation Instructions – Existing CBE Centres

V24.0 Last updated 22 September 2017 2

Table of Contents

Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................. 2

1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3

2 Where to Install ............................................................................................................................. 4

3 Pre-Installation Checklist ................................................................................................................ 6

4 Installation Overview ...................................................................................................................... 7

5 The Installation Process .................................................................................................................. 8

6 Testing your Installation ................................................................................................................. 27

Appendix 1 - Maintenance and Support .............................................................................................. 31

Appendix 2 - Downloading the Installer ............................................................................................... 32

Appendix 3 - Extracting the Installer ................................................................................................... 34

Appendix 4 - Sharing and Security ..................................................................................................... 37

Appendix 5 - Identifying the Location for the SNA Installation ................................................................. 42


1 Introduction

You are now going to install the ACCA Computer Based Examinations system. This system has three key components: CBE File Server Installation SNA (Secure Network Administrator) Examiner These are the components you are ready to install. They are shown in this diagram The Online Administration System is a website that runs through a standard web-browser and does not need any installation.


2 Where to Install

CBE File Server Installation component

The CBE File server component includes the files required for installing and running the ACCA CBE system, and also the storage facility for student results. During the installation you will be asked to create a file share. Please refer to document ‘CBE Architectural Overview and System

Requirements’ for full details on the file server 1) Identify the file server where you plan to create the share during the setup process.

Server name

Secure Network Administrator (SNA)

SNA is the program that the Examinations Co-ordinator will use to download tokens created on the Online Administration System. Please refer to document ‘CBE Architectural Overview and System

Requirements’ for the related minimum technical requirements, and Appendix 5 for information as to where SNA should be installed.

2) Identify the PC where SNA will be installed.

PC name and location


Examiner

Examiner is the program that the students use to sit their exam. Please refer to document ‘CBE Architectural Overview and System

Requirements’ for the related minimum technical requirements. 3) Identify the PC(s) where Examiner will be installed.

PC’s / locations

NOTE: If you need to change your hardware at any time after the CBE software has been installed, or you wish to change the location of any part of the software, the CBE team must be contacted at [email protected]. The CBE team will tell you how to make sure that your examinations continue to run smoothly after the changes have been made.


3 Pre-Installation Checklist

Have you…

Full administrator rights to install the software?

Checked document ‘CBE Architectural Overview and System Requirements’ to ensure your systems meet ACCA’s Minimum Technical Requirements?

Read Appendix 5 to ensure you know where best to install SNA?

Access to the workstations on which you wish to carry out the installation?

Valid ACCA Username and Passwords to hand? (available from the Examinations Co-ordinator)

Have you…

Checked that all student workstations are linked to a printer?

Checked that no other programs are running before installation takes place?

Checked on all workstations that the Regional Settings are set to English (United Kingdom)?

Ensured that if students are logging in with their individual profiles, the regional settings above are not over-written?

This should be part of the User Group policy.


4 Installation Overview

Here you see the steps you go through to install the full CBE system.


5 The Installation Process

5.1 Download the Software

NOTE: The CBE File server component needs to be installed by an administrator with full control to perform the installation. 1) Download the software from the Online Administration System. 2) You should already have identified the server where the CBE File Server components will be installed. Go to this server and place the ACCA CBE File Server Setup V24_0.exe file onto the desktop. NOTE: If you are unable to download the .exe file there is an alternative link to an .zip file It is recommended that Google Chrome is used to download this. If required, full download instructions are provided in Appendix 2 Extract the files from the ZIP. If required, full instructions are available in Appendix 3


5.2 Install the File Server Component

1) Ensure that you are at the file server where the server files are to be installed. 2) Right click on ACCA CBE File Server Setup V24_0.exe and select Run as administrator to start the installation. 3) A user account message will appear, click yes to continue


4) On the welcome screen click Next 5) It is recommended that the default location is used for the installation. Click Next


The file server component is now installed. Click Finish 6) When installation has finished, the CBE Share will open automatically, as shown here


5.3 Sharing and Security

In order for the CBE system to run correctly, it is important that you set correct file and sharing permissions. 1) Share the CBE Share folder on the file server and name it “CBE Share”. Make sure you apply full permissions to the share for all users. 2) You may wish to set specific user permissions for each file and folder within the share. You can see the minimum required “allow” permissions here The CBE server user needs to be an administrator with full control to run the system. Details on how to share and how to set permissions are shown in

Appendix 4.

Examinations Co-ordinator (The user who uses SNA)

Full

Con

trol

Mod

ify

Rea

d &

Exe

cute

List

Fol

der

Con

tent

s

Rea

d

Writ

e

Spec

ial P

erm

issi

ons

CBE Share CBE Share \configs\ CBE Share \configs\ACCA24_0.cfg CBE Share \ResultsFiles CBE Share \ResultsFilesBackup\

Student (The user who uses Examiner)

Full

Con

trol

Mod

ify

Rea

d &

Exe

cute

List

Fol

der

Con

tent

s

Rea

d

Writ

e

Spec

ial P

erm

issi

ons

CBE Share CBE Share \configs\ CBE Share \configs\ACCA24_0.cfg CBE Share \ResultsFiles CBE Share \ResultsFilesBackup\


5.4 Install Secure Network Administrator from the Shared Location on the File Server

You have: - set up the share (CBE Share folder) on the server and taken note of the server name - ensured that Examiner and SNA are able to communicate across the network using TCP-IP on port 19284 - identified the PC you want SNA to be installed and run from (refer to Appendix 5). NOTE: The SNA component needs to be installed by an administrator with full control to perform the installation. If you do not have the rights to complete this action, the installation may not be successful. 1) Go to the PC where you wish to install SNA. 2) From this PC, navigate to your CBE share folder on the server as follows: - Open “My Computer” - In the Address Bar enter \\<YOUR_SERVER'S_NAME>\CBE Share, select Enter - You may see a window asking for your username and password - If you do, enter these and ensure that you check 'Remember my password'. This will open the CBE Share folder, as shown here 3) Right click the V24.0 ACCA SNA Setup.exe file and select Run as Administrator.


A user account message will appear, click yes to continue If you see this message, please check that you have followed step 2 correctly. NOTE: It is vital that you install SNA from your CBE Share folder on the server. If you see this message, please terminate SNA before proceeding.


On the Welcome screen: Click Next


Choose default, or browse to the required location. Click Next. The SNA component is now complete, click Finish.


5.5 Run SNA for the First Time to Save Required Settings

1) To run SNA, go to: Start -> All Programs -> ACCA CBE -> ACCA SNA V24.0 NOTE: The screenshot presented may differ between operating systems SNA will now connect to the web server. If the SNA setup wizard cannot connect to the web server a communication error dialogue box is displayed. Please refer to the ACCA Troubleshooting Guide on the Online

Administration System to resolve the issue before continuing.

If connection is successful, the Welcome Screen of the SNA setup wizard, shown opposite, is displayed. 2) Click Next.

http://cbefaq.accaglobal.com/


3) Enter the login details used previously to access the Online Administration System. These are available from the Examinations Co-ordinator. 4) Click on the Next button, which becomes enabled after you enter your login details.

The wizard will then show the screen opposite, confirming the name of the ‘Location’ created for you by ACCA. This Location allows you to install and run SNA on one workstation.

5) Please read the instructions on screen and click Next

NOTE: As soon as you click Next the workstation details will be recorded, restricting the use of SNA to this workstation only. If a login error occurs, the possible reasons are outlined in the Troubleshooting Guide on the Online Administration System. You will not be able to continue with the setup until the problem is resolved.

http://cbefaq.accaglobal.com/


The results folders screen will now appear. The software will automatically store results to a primary results location, named “ResultFiles” within the server installation folder. You will also be asked to select a results backup folder.

6) Click on the Open Folder icon on the right hand side of the blue box, and browse to the desired location. 7) Create a folder, preferably on a separate physical drive, to be used as a backup result file storage location. You must create the folder on a network drive. 8) Click OK. 9) Once happy with your selection, click Next on the screen displayed. NOTE: Students must have the correct permissions to write to both the Result and Result Backup paths (otherwise the exams will not start). The required permissions are described in the Section 5.3 Sharing and Security. NOTE: Once this part of the process has been completed, you must NOT move the folders ‘ResultFiles’ or ‘ResultFilesBackup’, as this will cause problems with results being saved and uploaded. If you have to change the location of ‘ResultFiles’ or ‘ResultFilesBackup’ folders after they have been set, please contact ACCA by using the technical support request form on the Online Administration System, or by e-mail at [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]


The system will verify and confirm your result folder locations. 10) Click Next

11) Click Finish to move on to the main SNA window.


11) Click Finish to move on to the main SNA window.


The main SNA window is shown opposite. This has three tabs and each is updated at various stages throughout the examination process. The ‘CBE Centre User Guide’ provides detailed information regarding the operation of SNA. You have now completed the installation of the SNA part of the system. 12) To completely exit the SNA window: - right-click on the icon as shown opposite, which is located in the task bar in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen; and - select 'Terminate' from the pop-up menu. NOTE: SNA should be terminated after all results have been uploaded, after each exam session/at the end of the day.


5.6 Install Examiner from the Shared Location on the File Server

You have: - set up the share (CBE Share folder) on the server and taken note of the server’s name - ensured that Examiner and SNA are able to communicate across the network using TCP-IP on port 19284 - identified the PCs you want Examiner to be installed and run from. NOTE: The Examiner component needs to be installed by an administrator with full control to perform the installation. If you do not have the rights to complete this action, the installation may not be successful. 1) Go to each of these PCs, and in turn follow the steps below. 2) Navigate to your CBE share folder on the server as follows: - Open “My Computer”, in the Address Bar enter: “\\<YOUR_SERVER’S_NAME>\CBE Share”, select Enter - You may see a window asking for username and password - If you do, enter these details and ensure that you check “Remember My Password” This will open the CBE share folder, as shown here 3) Right click the “V24.0 ACCA Examiner Setup.exe” file and select Run as administrator


A user account message will appear, click Yes to continue If you see this message, please check that you have followed step 2 correctly. NOTE: It is vital that you install Examiner from your CBE Share folder on the server.


4) At the welcome screen click Next 5) Click Next or browse to other location


On completion, select Finish

NOTE: Ensure you have installed a printer on all PCs. This cannot be done while Examiner is running, so if you haven’t done it before your first exam session then the students will not be able to print the provisional result notifications


6 Testing your Installation

To complete the installation process, a system test must be carried out on each student workstation. This is required to ensure that the software has been installed properly, that SNA and Examiner operate as they should, that provisional result notifications can be printed and that results are uploaded. You will not be charged for the test tokens created.

Step 1 - Create Test Token – Online Administration System

• Log onto the Online Administration System using the login previously used. • From the Main Menu, go to Examinations / Access for Test Students. • Select the Student ‘John Smith’ who has already been registered with your centre. • Select the Examination ‘Web System Test Exam’. • Set the Start Date of the token, which must be adjusted to GMT. As this is a test token, you may leave the start time as default if you

are going to test the system straight away. The token will be valid for 12 hours.

Note: For live exam tokens, the token start times have to be adjusted according to GMT. We recommend that one hour is subtracted from this GMT-adjusted start time to allow for download in SNA. Step 2 - Download Token in SNA

• Start SNA by selecting Start > All Programs > ACCA CBE > ACCA SNA v24.0.

• Enter the valid login details previously used. • Select Refresh Token Display within the main SNA window. • If the token is time valid it will appear on the SNA window.

SNA should show the details of the test student and associated token for a test exam.

Note: Before Examiner software is run on a student workstation, SNA must be running on the SNA workstation.


Step 3 - Run Examiner to test that it has been successfully installed

• Go to the student workstation.

• Go to: Start > All Programs > ACCA CBE > ACCA Examiner v24.0.

• The login window shown is displayed:

• Enter the ACCA Registration Number: 0001000

• Enter the Date of Birth: 01/January/1930

• Click Log In.

• Select the exam name ‘Web System Test Exam’

• Select to confirm that the personal details and examination are correct.

• Click Continue.


• Click the Next arrow through the instruction screens.

• Click on Start Exam

• Answer some questions.

• Exit Exam.

• Print a copy of the provisional result notification to ensure that the workstation is connected to the correct printer.

• Click Exit.


Step 4 Upload Result in SNA

• Go to the SNA workstation.

• SNA should confirm that the result has been successfully uploaded.

• Click Refresh Token Display to remove uploaded token from SNA.

Step 5 Repeat the above steps on all Student workstations

If any issues arise during the testing process, these must be addressed prior to holding any live examinations.

The installation and testing process is now complete.

NOTE: If you need to change your hardware at any time after the CBE software has been installed, or you wish to change the location of any part of the software, the CBE team must be contacted at [email protected]. The CBE team will tell you how to make sure that your examinations continue to run smoothly after the changes have been made


Appendix 1 - Maintenance and Support

1.1 Software Updates

ACCA shall regularly update the question database. From time to time, there may also be requirements to ask centers to update the full CBE system. This will involve downloading updated versions of the software and performing reinstallations on some/all workstations. Full instructions will be provided at the time of each required update. We will provide advance notice to centers to confirm when this must be done.

1.2 Support

If you experience any problems when installing or testing the software, or have any questions, please contact us in one of two ways:

By e-mail at [email protected]

By using the Technical Support Request form on the CBE online administration system.

Please note that support is currently available between the hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm UK time, Monday to Friday (with the exception of UK public holidays).

mailto:[email protected]


Appendix 2 - Downloading the Installer

Download the .zip File onto your Server

Carry out these instructions on the File Server that will hold the ACCA Shared Folder. In some cases it will not be possible to download the file using the internet browser on the Server. In this case you can download the file

on any computer with access to the Online Administration System and then move the file to the server using a USB Pen Drive or by copying it to the server over the network. 1) Open a web browser - It is recommended that Google Chrome is used. 2) Go to the Online Administration System (as shown opposite) 3) Log in to the Online Administration System using the login details supplied by ACCA to the Examinations Co-ordinator. 4) Click the link for the .zip file – this can be found under the link for the .exe This will give you the option to download the file.

http://cbe.accaglobal.com/CBE/coordinator.dll/login?alias=CBE

http://cbe.accaglobal.com/CBE/coordinator.dll/login?alias=CBE


5) Select Save. NOTE: The screen shots presented in this Appendix may differ between the operating systems. 6) You will then be able to browse to the location that you wish to save the file to. 7) If you have not carried out these instructions on the file server you will need to move the file to the file server now. 8) If you require instructions for extracting the software go to Appendix 3. If you know how to extract the software, please do this and then go to Step 5.2 'Install the File Server Component'


Appendix 3 - Extracting the Installer

Extracting the software

The decompressed installer can be opened using one of the following tools: WinZip V8.0 or above; or Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 compression facility Or similar compatible application Decompressing/unzipping the file may take some time.

This document will show an example of extracting the zip using Windows Compressed (zipped) Folders Utility. NOTE: The screen shots presented in this Appendix may differ between the operating systems. 1) Right click the ZIP File and select Extract All....


This will open the Extraction Wizard. 2) Click Next. By default the files will extract to the same location that the ZIP File is sitting, which should be the desktop. 3) Click Extract. When the extraction is finished you will be presented with the Extraction Complete Screen. 4) Make sure that ‘Show Extracted Files when complete’ is checked’, as shown here 5) Click Extract.


You will then be presented with the V24.0 ACCA CBE File Server Setup.exe file. 6) Go to Step 5.2 'Install the File Server Component'.


Appendix 4 - Sharing and Security

NOTE: The screen shots presented in this Appendix may differ between the operating systems. To share the CBE Share folder and apply the required security: 1) Right click the ‘ CBE Share’ folder. 2) Select ‘Share with’ then ‘Advanced Sharing...’ in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

This will open a Properties Window for the ‘CBE Share’ folder on the ‘Sharing Tab’. (In Windows 7, you need to click the ‘Advanced Sharing...’ button as shown)


Ensure that you leave the Share name as ‘CBE Share’ and that ‘Maximum allowed’ is selected. 3) Click the Permissions button. This will open the ‘Share Permissions’ window, as shown here

The user ‘Everyone’ will already be present in the ‘Group or user names’ section. 4) Check ‘Allow’ for ‘Full Control’ so that all three check boxes become ticked. This is only setting the share permissions for access to the ‘CBE Share’ share, not to any specific files or folders, so do not worry that you are giving all users access to files on your network. 5) Now click Apply and then OK. You will now be back at the ‘Sharing’ Tab.


6) Click on the ‘Security’ Tab. A window, similar to the screen opposite, will be shown. (In Windows 7, Click ‘Edit...’ as shown) 7) Click the Add... button.


A window, similar to the screen opposite, will be shown. There are two users that you have to specifically set 'allow' permissions for: Examinations Coordinator (user that will run SNA) Students (users that will use Examiner)

As an example, this document will now show how to set permissions for the SNA Administrator User on the ‘CBE Share’ folder on a domain named ACCA_CBE.local. This user is called: SNA_Admin.ACCA_CBE.local

8) Type in the username of the SNA user, shown here as ‘SNA_Admin’. Then click the Check Names button. NOTE: Check with your IT Department regarding the correct user to use.

You may be asked for a username and password to authenticate this action. If you have sufficient rights to set user permissions, then the SNA username should become underlined. 9) Click OK.


You will now be taken back to the Security Tab on the properties of the CBE Share folder. The user SNA_Admin has been added to the list ‘Group or user names:’ 10) You can tick which permissions you wish to set for this user on this folder.

It is advised NOT to set any “Deny” permissions.

11) The steps above should be carried out for the Students User login, and for each file and folder that you wish to set specific user permissions to.


Appendix 5 - Identifying the Location for the SNA Installation

Take the following into consideration when you decide where SNA should be installed (this decision should be taken by the IT dept and the Examinations Coordinator):

• SNA will be used by the Examinations Co-ordinator/Administrator/Invigilator to download the access tokens previously created on the online administration system.

• SNA can also be used to check access tokens and monitor examination activity.

• SNA must be running before and during the exam, and immediately after the exam to allow upload of results.

• The internet must be running continuously on the SNA workstation at least before and during the exam, and immediately

• after the exam to allow upload of results.

• Once installed and run once, the PC details are recorded by the software and this restricts SNA from being run on any other

• workstation.*

• The Examinations Co-ordinator/Administrator/Invigilator should all have access to this workstation and their login should provide full access to the SNA program.

• SNA must not be accessible to students, so if installed on a workstation in an examination room, this must never be used by

• a student to take examinations.

• Where you have more than one examination room, SNA can still only be run from the one workstation it was installed to,

• so this workstation must be in close proximity to all rooms to make the checking and examination administration easier.

• SNA must be terminated after each examination session has ended.

• * As SNA can only be run on one PC, it is important that you choose the workstation carefully, as when the software

• has been run once and settings saved, you cannot move the SNA installation without contacting ACCA.

computer based examinations - acca faqcbefaq.accaglobal.com/sites/default/files/v24 0...

Documents