Platform Architecture and Features for Thin-Client Application and Tool Delivery and Integration in Internet

Based Distance Education

Samuel Conn, Asst. ProfessorRegis University MSCIT ProgramDenver, ColoradoISECON 2002November 3, 2002

Agenda

Introduction Problem Definition Three Part Solution Architectures & Technologies Next Stage of Evolution

Introduction

Regis University in Denver, Colorado MSCIT program areas of emphasis in Database Technology, Network Engineering, e-Commerce, and Software Engineering

Problem Definition Maintenance &

support of lab environment

Lab environment for distance education students

Integration of lab environment with content delivery

Three Part Solution Merge classroom

based courses & online courses into one “virtual lab” or v-Lab environment.

Create global delivery system for virtual lab that works with content delivery

Utilize graduate students as a resource to support and maintain the platform via an Information Systems Practicum

Selection of thin-client technology

OS Independent Small footprint client Emulation via pixel streaming Success at low bandwidth Server side administration Expansion to portal technologies Affordable

Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICA)

Network evolution

LAN LAN LAN

LAN LAN LAN

WAN

?

Internet

Citrix Server(s)

Oracle ServersApplication Servers

Storage Arrays

Simplified Diagram“ARN Architecture”

Network Operations Center (NOC)Lowell Campus

Distance Education Studentat Home

Distance Education Studentat Work

Land-based MSCITStudent on Campus

Land-based MSCITStudent at Home

Land-based MSCITStudent at Work

ARN Administrators

Faculty & SPS Users

Academic Research Network(Virtual) V-Lab environment

Support Model

Student PracticumsDatabase and Network Engineering

•6 months in length•Graduate Student Capstone•Support for infrastructure•Support for virtual lab•Support for applications•Support for Oracle accounts

DenverLos Angeles Student

Frankfurt, Germany Student DBA

Logs

Sup

port

Reque

st

Resolves Problem

Service Restored

Student logon

Student portal interface

Content delivery system & virtual lab merged environment

Student toggles between environments

Portal Integration

ContentSystem

VirtualLab

Services/Applications

CRM

Outlook ExpressWebCTBlackBoardeCollege

DatabaseOS environmentsTools

WorkflowUtilitiesCustom DevLibraries

Student ProfileOutbound directAdministration

MSCIT Portal

MSISPortal

CorpPartners

Collaborative Portals

StudentsFacultyAdministratorsPartners

Partners(Sun, IBM…)

Evolution of e-Learning Platform

ContentDeliverySystem

VirtualLab

PortalIntegration,Workflow& CRM

AudioEnhancementTo Content

VideoEnhancementTo Content

Integration w/External Digital & VirtualKnowledgeBases / ContentRepositories

Academic Infomediary

•Outlook Express(total asynchronous)

•WebCT•BlackBoard•eCollege

•Thin-client technology

•Middleware services•Profile schema•Application SW

•Broadband Backbone•Infrastructure•Managed Bandwidth•QoS•Compression/Streaming Software

•Proxy Services•Enterprise Application Integration•Access Protocols

Technology Migration Path

Academic Delivery Migration Path

Thank you…..

Questions or Comments?

This presentation available atwww.samconn.com/regis/ISECON2002.htm