Preparing Your Network for KS3 ICT Tests

Becta | Technical paper |Preparing your network for KS3 ICT tests

Preparing your network for KS3 ICT tests

Introduction

This document is aimed at those schools who need to upgrade their workstation, server or networks in order to meet the technical requirements that are needed for a school to take part in the ICT Key Stage 3 National pilot for 2005 (further information on the ICT KS3 tests and requirements can be found on QCA’s website [1] ).

What to do if your school fails to meet the minimum technical requirements

If your school fails to meet the minimum technical requirements but still wishes to apply to take part in the KS3 ICT tests there are several courses of action:

The first course of action is to upgrade the part of the workstation or server (whether hardware or software) that has failed the requirement. In many cases this may be the best course of action but it needs stressing that upgrading a legacy computer may not be possible or financially advisable. In cases where upgrades are possible the school should consider whether spending money on a legacy computer with a low technical specification will add significant performance for a variety of tasks or if the upgrade is simply to meet KS3 ICT test requirements.

Example: The school’s workstation has failed on the memory requirements for the KS3 ICT tests

Course of action: Upgrade the workstations memory if possible to the minimum of 128mb.

The second course of action is to invest in new equipment. If this course of action is taken it is highly recommended that the school uses the Becta minimum specifications (shown below) as a starting point for procuring new equipment and is encouraged to read Becta’s documents “Specifying workstations; an overview” [2], “Specifying PC servers; an overview” [3] and

“Specifying LANs; an overview” [4] for further information on technical specifications of workstations, servers and LANs.

Example: The school’s server has failed to meet several requirements for the KS3 ICT tests

Course of action: The school has already decided to upgrade their legacy server so checks that before purchasing a new server that Becta’s advice and minimum requirements are taken into account.

Technical Specifications

There are two levels of specifications given below. Firstly there are the minimum specifications that are set by Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which can also be found at Secondly, there are the minimum specifications as set by Becta when purchasing a new workstation, server or upgrading the school’s network.

Workstation Technical Specifications

It should be stressed that in the case of workstations, the KS3 ICT test specifications are based on PC workstations using Microsoft Windows operating system. Becta’s advice in “Specifying workstations; an overview” [2] refers to multiple brands of operating systems, some of which are not included in the KS3 ICT test minimum specification and thus cannot currently be recommended specifically for these tests.

KS3 ICT test
Client PC hardware specification / Becta minimum specification for new PC workstation
Processor clock speed / 1.0GHz / 1.8GHz
Memory
(RAM) / 128MB SDRAM / 256MB SDRAM
Display / Resolution 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600 / Please refer to “Specifying workstations; an overview”[2]
Network connection / 100 Mbps network interface card / 100Mbps network interface card
Operating System (OS) / Windows 98SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP / Please refer to “Specifying workstations; an overview”[2]
Hard Disk space / 250 MB of free space / 40GB
CD/DVD ROM / CD ROM or DVD drive* / Please refer to “Specifying workstations; an overview”[2]
Video Memory / 32 MB of video memory / Video card with 64MB memory
Browser / IE5.5+, Netscape 6+ / 5th generation browser or equivalent
Sound Card / 16 bit soundcard / Please refer to “Specifying workstations; an overview”[2]
Miscellaneous / Headphones with adjustable volume

This will only be a requirement if schools wish to administer tests on stand alone machines not connected to the school network. A CD Rom drive will be needed to install the test software and to install a test session. The CD Rom drive will need to be writable if schools are unable to attach stand-alone machines to the network or do not have another form of removable media, such as a memory stick for the purposes of returning results.

Server Technical Specifications

KS3 ICT test Server hardware specification / Becta minimum specification for new PC server
Processor / 1.7GHz / Please see “Specifying PC servers; an overview” [3]
Memory
(RAM) / 256MB SDRAM / 512Mb for small network*
Network connection / 1GB LAN interface card / 10/100/1000MB network interface card
Operating System (OS) / Windows 2000 server
Windows 2003 server
Unix, Linux or variant capable of supporting Java 1.2 / Please see “Specifying PC servers; an overview” [3]
Hard Disk space / 2GB free space (software)
1MB of storage space per 10 tests taken / 72GB for small network*
CD/DVD ROM / CD ROM or DVD drive (for installation) / CD ROM or DVD drive (for installation)

* Note that it is unlikely that many secondary schools will be seen as having “small networks”. Please refer to “Specifying PC servers; an overview” [3].

NetworkInfrastructure Technical Specifications

For further information on specifying a LAN please refer to Specifying LANs; an overview [4].

KS3 ICT test Network specification infrastructure guidelines / Becta minimum specification for LAN infrastructure upgrades
Cabling / Category 5/5e/6 UTP Cabling / Category 5e/6 UTP Cabling
Server (backbone) connection speed / 1GB server connection / 1GB server connection
Workstation connection / Switched 100Mbps connection recommended / Switched 100Mbps connection
Connection sharing / Shared 100Mbps connections if necessary but a maximum of 24 users per switch feed. Hubs, where used, should not be cascaded. / Currently, there are no maximum users per switch feed recommendations

Important references

[1] QCA KS3 ICT

[2] Specifying workstations; an overview

[3] Specifying PC servers; an overview

[4] Specifying LANs; an overview

Review at March 2005