Elluminate FAQs

The Alamo Colleges Meeting Place is a real-time web based system (Powered by Elluminate vClass™) mentoring and tutoring system that can be used to enhance online courses, tutor, provide one-on-one instruction, provide advisement, have online office hours.

The system features full 2-way audio, and instant messaging capabilities, a shared interactive whiteboard (which can be used to post PowerPoint presentations as well as images), remote control abilities for both moderator and students as well as application sharing features.

The meeting place is a safe and controlled environment to conduct meetings or class sessions.

To visit the Meeting Place site click here: http://elluminatelive.alamo.edu/

Java™ Web Start --a new application-deployment technology-- gives you the power to launch full-featured applications with a single click from your Web browser. You can now download and launch applications, such as a complete spreadsheet program or an Internet chat client, without going through complicated installation procedures.

Java™ Web Start includes the security features of the Java™ 2 platform, so the integrity of your data and files is never compromised. In addition Java™ Web Start technology enables you to use the lates Java™ 2 technology -- with any browser.

With Java™ Web Start, you launch applications simply by clicking on a Web page link. If the application is not present on your omputer, Java™ Web Start automatically downloads all necessary files. It then caches the files on your computer so the application is always ready to be launched anytime you want -- either from an icon on youur desktop or from the browser link.

When prompted by the Java™ Web Start security warning that "This application is requesting unrestricted access to your local machine and network", the user may feel threatened and not want to click "Start" to allow vClass to continue. Allowing the request does not shut down local security or modify security settings in any way. The application needs this access for a number of reasons.

1. The Elluminate software needs to be able to interact with the users hardware in order to access the speakers and microphone through the soundcard.

2. The Elluminate software allows the ability to import files (such as gif's or jpeg's) onto the Whiteboard and to convert PowerPoint files into .wbd files to be used in the vClass classroom itself. To be able to do this we have to be allowed to browse the users directory structure. In reality, the user searching for the files does this browsing, but this access must be granted.

Click on the link Click here to test your relevant firewall security settings on your assigned web page (usually under the heading “Technical Support) and you will be redirected to a page that will test which ports your machine has available and are open to traffic.

Click on the button labeled Start Firewall test the applet will test your ability to make a connection to Elluminate through any firewall system that is in place. After all tests are run you will be shown a summary of which ports your machine should use.

Test1 will test to see if your machine can connect using Elluminate default port, 2187 while Test2 test on the default HTML port, 80 (Alternate Connection 1). Port 8080 can also be used to connect to Elluminate as “Alternate Connection 2”. Failure to connect on all three of these ports means that your firewall will have to be configured by your system administrator to open a port for vClass to access your machine. Specifically, contact your IT department, or the person(s) who administrates your firewall and have them open up port 2187, 80, or 8080 to allow a connection for the vClass software.

Elluminate’s vClass runs on ports 2187, 80, and 8080. You have to be able to connect to one of these ports. Standard connection is 2187. Alternate connections are ports 80 and 8080. The type of traffic is TCP/IP conference port. All participants must have a single connection to the server. The server sends data to all participants through their own individual connections. 

The Jave Web Start home page is located at http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/

lick on the link below to visit an orientation slideshow that will help you familiarize yourself with the features within your meeting place room: http://www.elluminate.com/support/orientation/toc.jsp

The minimum configuration for running vClass is as follows:

For an IBM compatible:

Pentium II 266 MHz processor or faster

Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/NT

64 megabytes of RAM

20 Megabytes of available disk space on your hard drive

Soundcard with speakers and microphones or headset

28.8 kbps or higher internet connection

Internet Explorer 4.0 (or higher) or Netscape 4.7 (or higher)

Graphic Tablet (optional)

For a MAC:

Mac OS 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, Mac OS X 10.1 or later

G3 233 or better

64 Megabytes for OS 9, 128 megabytes for OS X and above

20 megabytes of available disk space on your hard drive

Stuffit Expander

Soundcard with speakers and microphone or headset

28.8 kbps or higher internet connection

Internet Explorer 4.0 (or higher)

Graphic Tablet (optional)