November 08, 2005
Performance Issues Fixed
The performance problems we have been experiencing have been corrected.
ITS operates a "packet shaper". This is a system that changes the priorities on internet traffic so that things like email or web get high priority, but things like online games and peer-to-peer file sharing get low priority. Its a way to make sure the University business has priority over other uses of the campus network.
It turns out this system was mis-identifying Elluminate traffic as "bittorrent" traffic. Bittorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing system.
This problem has been corrected so Elluminate should work at its normal fast speed now.
Posted by kvl014 at 04:04 PM
November 07, 2005
Elluminate Performance Problems
In the last few days we've noticed that on-campus computers are getting very poor performance with Elluminate. We are currently investigating this and hope to have a solution soon. We'll keep you informed as things develop.
It looks like viewing pre-recorded sessions are fine. Also, people off campus also get good performance. The problem appears to be only with U of S on-campus computers.
We suspect a network configuration problem someplace between Elluminate and the University. We are currently checking our networking settings and are also consulting with Elluminate support.
Posted by kvl014 at 06:55 PM
September 26, 2005
Why Tutorials ask you to Install Elluminate Again
You may notice that Elluminate starts the installation procedure again when you view one of the tutorials. This is normal and will only happen once. Allow the installation to complete and you will see the tutorial.
Elluminate recently released a new version 6.5 of their software. That's the version that gets installed when you initially set up the system.
Some of the tutorials were recorded using the older version 6.0 of the software. To view these tutorials, the system needs some of the 6.0 program components. So it installs them automatically for you.
It may look like it is installing Elluminate all over again, but it isn't. It's just installing additional components required to view the pre-recorded sessions.
This will only happen when you view the first tutorial. Subsequent tutorials should start up normally.
Posted by kvl014 at 05:55 PM
September 24, 2005
New Web Conferencing Service Announced
The Univeristy of Saskatchewan has partnered with Elluminate in a one year web-conferencing pilot, funded by TEL. Visit webconf.usask.ca for more details
Web Conferencing systems allow people to hold "virtual meetings" or "lectures" on the Internet. Using a multimedia-capable computer, an Internet connection, and an optional camera and microphone, people can attend meetings or lectures from the comfort of their own office or home.
Once in the meeting, participants can use several meeting tools, like write on a shared whiteboard, display PowerPoint slides, or share programs. People can talk into their microphone or start up their webcam and everyone else in the meeting can hear and see them. The sessions can also be recorded for playback later.
This tool will supplement the instructional capabilities already in PAWS and WebCT by adding real-time conferencing capabilities.
For more information, please see the webconf.usask.ca web site.
Posted by kvl014 at 01:30 PM