1. What is Knowledge Forum?
2. How many Knowledge Forum databases do I need?
3. What are the technical requirements for Knowledge Forum?
4. How do I order Knowledge Forum?
5. How is Knowledge Forum 4.8 different from Knowledge Forum 4.7?
6. What are Java Assessment Applets? How do I access them when I am in a database on my own Knowledge Forum server?
7. How do I set up a Knowledge Forum log on my Mac or Linux server?
8. How do I stop Knowledge Forum on my Mac or Linux server?
9. How do I upgrade my Knowledge Forum 4.6 or 4.7 server to run version 4.8?
10. My Knowledge Forum server is running, but I cannot connect to a login screen.
11. I can log in to Knowledge Forum Basic Mode, but I cannot connect in Enhanced Mode.
12. How do I install Java on my computer? How do I set my Java Console window to open?
13. How do I set my Knowledge Forum server to run on a different port?
How many Knowledge Forum databases do I need?
When you purchase a Knowledge Forum database, you are purchasing the ability to serve one database. Though you may create an unlimited number of databases, you may only use one of them at a time.
Generally, users use one database per group of users.
For example, a elementary school that uses Knowledge Forum might have one database for one class and other database for a different class. Within the class students might have views for the science topics, reading assignments or math problems. You can put both classes in the same database if you want them to share information.
In another example, a university professor might use Knowledge Forum to facilitate scientific inquiry with her classes. She teaches three different classes, and has a database for each class.
If you are unsure how many databases you need, please email helpdesk@learninginmotion.com or call
(800) 560-5670. We will be glad to help you figure out what will meet your specific requirements.
How is Knowledge Forum 4.8 different from Knowledge Forum 4.7?
Listed below are the release notes for Knowledge Forum 4.8. The new version has repaired some bugs that were reported in version Knowledge Forum 4.7.
Knowledge Forum 4.8 features a new login page design, to allow access to Basic, Lite, and Enhanced modes from the same screen. Knowledge Forum 4.8 also includes an optional proxy server setting to resolve connection problems in a network containing a firewall.
What are Java Assessment Applets? How do I access them when I am in a database on my own Knowledge Forum server?
If you are running Knowledge Forum on your own server, you need to download the Java Assessment Applets separately from your server. Assessment applets help managers to analyze different aspects of the contributions that authors have made to their database. Available applets include the Contribution Tool, the Semantic Overlap Tool, the Social Network Tool, the Vocabulary Growth Tool, and the Writing Measures Tool. For more information about what these tools are and how to use them, visit the Knowledge Forum help website, located here: http://ikit.org/kf/46/help/enhanced/index.html
To download the most current Java Assessment Applets, go to this URL: http://analysis.ikit.org/w/index.php/Assessment_Applets
Once you have downloaded the applets, place them in the AppletDir folder in your Knowledge Forum server folder.
How do I set up a Knowledge Forum log on my Mac or Linux server?
If you would like your server to keep log files in your Knowledge Forum directory, follow the instructions given in the Admin Quick Start card up to the section titled Starting the Server. Instead of using the command given in the quick start card, use the following command to start your server.
1. Type: ./kforumd -d -p kf.pid >>out.log 2>>err.log
Output (stdout) from the server is written to out.log and error messages (stderr) are written to err.log. You can name these logs as desired, and they will be created in your Knowledge Forum directory when you enter this command. If you do not use this command to start Knowledge Forum, no logs will be kept.
How do I stop Knowledge Forum on my Mac or Linux server?
To stop your Knowledge Forum server on a Mac or Linux machine, follow the steps below:
1. Pull down your Go menu on the Finder menu bar. Select the Utilities folder
2. Open the Terminal application.
3. Type: cd /Library/KnowledgeForum. This will bring you to the KnowledgeForum folder in your Library folder.
4. Type: cat kf.pid to get the process ID
5. Type: kill -INT <pid> (where <pid> is the result of the cat kf.pid command used in Step 4).
To make your server re-read its configuration file, type: killall -HUP kforumd
For other uses of the kforumd executable file, type: ./kforumd --help
How do I upgrade my Knowledge Forum 4.6 or 4.7 server to run version 4.8?
TO MOVE FROM KNOWLEDGE FORUM 4.6 OR 4.7 TO 4.8 ON A MAC OR LINUX SERVER
If you wish to upgrade your KF 4.6 or 4.7 installation to KF 4.8 you can do so by following these steps:
1. Replace your old kf46server or kforumd with the new kforumd.
2. Replace your old Client.jar with the new Client.jar.
3. Replace your old Languages folder with the new Languages folder.
4. Replace your old kforumd.conf file with the new kforumd.conf file, and follow the instructions on the Admin Quick Start card to update the necessary text in this file to match the settings on your old server.
You do not need to change your kforumsn.txt file.
To be able to acccess your Knowledge Forum 4.6 or 4.7 database in Knowledge Forum 4.8, simply move your old database folder into your Knowledge Forum 4.8 folder, then modify the kforumd.conf file as you would for a new database. You do not need to use kfmigrate unless you are dealing with databases from Knowledge Forum 4.5
or earlier.
TO MOVE FROM KNOWLEDGE FORUM 4.6 OR 4.7 TO 4.8 ON A WINDOWS SERVER
Before installing Knowledge Forum 4.8 on a Windows server, you need to de-install Knowledge Forum 4.6 or 4.7.
To de-install on Windows take the following steps:
1. Click the Start menu on the bottom of the screen and select Run. A Run window will appear.
2. Type: cmd and press OK. A command window will come up.
3. Type: C:\KnowledgeForum\kf46server.exe -d if your previous server was version 4.6 or C:\KnowledgeForum\kforum.exe -d if your previous sever was version 4.7.
To install Knowledge Forum 4.8:
1. Replace your old kf46server or kforumd.exe with the new kforum.exe.
2. Replace your old Client.jar with the new Client.jar.
3. Replace your old Languages folder with the new Languages folder.
4. Replace your old kforumd.conf file with the new kforumd.conf file, and follow the instructions on the Admin Quick Start card to update the necessary text in this file to match the settings on your old server.
5. Move the following files from the Knowlege Forum 4.8 server folder into your old Knowledge Forum folder:
icudt38.dll You do not need to change your kforumsn.txt file.
icuin38.dll
icuio38.dll
icule38.dll
iculx38.dll
icutu38.dll
icuuc38.dll
zlib1.dll
6. In the command window, type:: C:\KnowledgeForum\kforum.exe -i
7. Follow the Instructions in the Admin Quick Start card to start the Knowledge Forum service.
In all other respects, kforum can be started and stopped in the same ways and with the same parameters as your old server.
To be able to acccess your Knowledge Forum 4.6 or 4.7 databases in Knowledge Forum 4.8, simply move your old database folder into your Knowledge Forum 4.8 folder, then modify the kforumd.conf file as you would for a new database. You do not need to use kfmigrate unless you are dealing with databases from Knowledge Forum 4.5 or earlier.
My Knowledge Forum server is running, but I cannot connect to a login screen
If you have started your Knowledge Forum server, but are unable to get to the login screen (see picture here) when you type the server's URL in your browser window, go through the tests below to see if they help you to diagnose or solve the problem.
If no one can access the Knowledge Forum server:
1. Is your serial number file (kforumsn.txt) located in your Knowledge Forum folder? Make sure that your licensed time period for Knowledge Forum has not expired, and that your server is set up to run only the number of databases that you are entitled to. Make sure that you are not using the same serial number file to run more than one server.
2. Did you modify your configuration file (kforumd.conf) correctly? Make sure that the changes you made follow the guidelines given in the Admin Quick Start card, or in the file itself. Make sure there are no extra semicolons or words in the text that you changed.
3. Can you connect to Knowledge Forum using an internet browser on the server computer itself? Do you know of any firewall or proxy server that could interfere wtih communication sent out of the server computer?
If some computers are able to access the Knowledge Forum server, but your computer cannot:
1. Are you using the correct URL to access your server (did you specify the correct port number?)
2. Is there is a firewall running on your computer? Try adjusting firewall settings to see if this will allow you to connect.
If the steps above do not help you to access your server, or if you have further questions, please e-mail helpdesk@learninginmotion.com. Please describe the problem exactly (any messages on your screen when you type in your server's URL, anything you noticed when performing the tests above). We apologize for the difficulties you are experiencing, and will work with you to get your server running.
I can log in to Knowledge Forum in Basic Mode, but I cannot connect in Enhanced Mode
If you can log in to your Knowledge Forum server using Basic Mode, but are unable to log in using Enhanced or Lite Mode, make sure that you have Java on your computer. You can find more information about Java here.
If you do have Java working on your computer, there is probably a firewall or proxy server blocking non-http traffic on your port. If no one has been able to access your server in Enhanced Mode, try switching your server to run over another port that does not filter non-HTTP traffic (see directions here).
If this is not an option, or if you do not think your problem is caused by a firewall or proxy server, please e-mail helpdesk@learninginmotion.com with answers to the questions below.
1. Have you been able to log in to the server in Enhanced Mode on any computer? What internet browser are you using? Are you able to log in using Enhanced Mode using a different internet browser?
2. Are you able to access our Demo database in Enhanced mode? The Demo database is at this URL:
http://kfserver01.learninginmotion.com:8082
3. What does your Java Console window say? (You can find out how to open your Java Console window here.)
Please give us specific details about what happens when you try to log in to your server in Enhanced Mode, in addition to answering the questions above. We apologize for the difficulties you are experiencing, and will work with you to get your server running.
How do I install Java on my computer? How do I set my Java Console window to open?
If you do not have the latest version of Java on your computer, you can download it by going to this URL:
http://www.java.com:80/en/download/manual.jsp
To set your Java Console window to open, follow the instructions below.
If you are using a Windows machine:
1. Click Start --> Settings--> Control Panel
2. Double click the Java Plug-In icon.
3. Click the Basic tab.
4. Select Show Console and click Apply.
If you are using a Mac machine:
1. Go to Applications --> Utilities --> Java
2. In the Java folder, there are files and/or folders for different versions of Java. Find the highest version number, and click on the Java Settings or Java Preferences file.
3. Under one of the tabs, there should be a box you can click on to show the Java console. Check this and click Apply Now.
The next time you log in to Knowledge Forum using Enhanced or Lite Mode, a Java Console window should appear on your computer.
How do I set my Knowledge Forum server to run on a different port?
You may run Knowledge Forum 4.8 on any port, as long as the port is open and unfiltered (non-HTTP traffic is not blocked). Look for a port that is not regulated by firewalls. At Learning In Motion, we have used ports 81 or 8082.
To change the port that your server uses, open your kforumd.conf file:
1. Find the section called HTTPServer. You will see:
// The TCP port number to listen on for HTTP connections.
// Absent or 0 == disabled
Port = int16(80);
2. Change the number 80 on the last line to the port number that you would like to use for your Knowledge Forum server.
3. Save and close kforumd.conf.
To access your databases in Basic or Enchanced Mode:
1. Open a browser
2. Type: http://host.domain.edu:#, where # is the port number that your server is now running on.
To access your databases in Lite Mode:
1. Open a browser
2. Type: http://host.domain.edu/kforum:#, where # is the port number that your server is now running on. This will create the file KnowledgeForum.jnlp on your machine and launch the Lite version.
3. When you next want to open your server, double-click on the KnowledgeForum.jnlp file.