Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by Holly Dunitz -
Number of replies: 7

I'm testing Moodle to replace our current LMS.I have a small number of users, about 30, with a very light course load.
Graphic Designers have one class per week with a 4-9 minute screen cast video that must be viewable at full screen, and 8+ T/F and multiple choice questions to answer. I would like to add SCORM 1.2 content created in Lectora Online.

Installed Moodle 1.9 Moodle4Mac XAAMP yesterday on my

Mac OSX 10.6.8, 2.6 GHZ intel core 2 duo, with 8gm of 1067 mhz DDR3.

The plan is to test a few users using my computer as the web server.I am not sure which latest version of Moodle I can safely upgrade to using my computer as the web server.

I can not find instructions for upgrading using my local computer as the web server. I found MAMP upgrade instructions but not XAAMP instructions.

Info that would be really helpful:

  • Which version I can safely upgrade to.
  • Instructions for upgrading using my local MAC as the web server
  • Info about adding SCORM 1.2 content large files about 69mb

Any info and links would be great.

 

 

 

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In reply to Holly Dunitz

Re: Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by G. M. -

Hi Holly,

If you installed Moodle 1.9 just yesterday, I'd say it would be easier just to do a fresh 2.5.1+ install instead of doing an upgrade.

http://download.moodle.org/macosx/

As mentioned in that page,

Moodle4Mac is designed for developing and testing locally on an Apple computer. You need to make it more secure if you will open Moodle4Mac for an intranet or for the internet.

In the package documentation page: 

http://docs.moodle.org/25/en/Complete_Install_Packages_for_Mac_OS_X

you'll find the instructions to install the Moodle (XAMPP/MAMP) packages. Once again, take note of what the Summary mentions about using Moodle only use for private, local testing purpose vs. having it installed on an OS X Server connected to Internet.

If you want to use Moodle on an OS X Server connected to the internet please read:

http://docs.moodle.org/25/en/Step_by_Step_Installation_on_a_Mac_OS_X_Server

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In reply to G. M.

Re: Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by Holly Dunitz -

Should I completely delete the 1.9 that I currently have.

I initially attempted to install a later version 2.3.8 and 2.4.5 and could only get 1.9 to work.

The instructions file that comes along with the later packets mention launching a permissions shell script that does not exist in the packet. It's called FixRightsForMoodle.sh the only .sh file in 2.3.8 and 2.4.5 in the main folder is called something like UpdateMoodle..sh.

I know that the packets are supposed to be one stop shopping for a simple install of Moodle that I am seeking. I even added the PHP extensions for the later versions. I still couldn't get it to work?

 

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In reply to Holly Dunitz

Re: Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

Mac Laptops/Tabletop present interesting situation in that OSX already comes with php and an Apache web server (Apples version which is 1.3.9 if I re-call correctly and not what one needs for Moodle).  That's what is used when user turns on web sharing.

Besides that, even though it might be powerful enough for a single user, it's NOT a true server.  If one attempts to get 30 students using, I'd be surprised if it wasn't painfully slow.  There will be some things that one can't tweak very well (some PHP items ... like opcache ... as well as MySQL tweaks) that will make it even more difficult to run a 'fast' version 2 of Moodle.   One could possibly get it all to work, but that will require terminal and command line ... period.  No GUI interface into MySQL nor Apache cause they are 'faceless' servers and PHP is nothing more than a scripting langage.

The download package provided was for development use ... all of them say that.  Trying to use as a server will be an exercise in frustration, me thinks.

You can develop on a Mac but then to serve it out, best to restore a backup onto something more robust ... ie, box configured to be a true server.

One could get some cheap hosting ... example SiteGround offers Moodle and conduct your 30 user class there.  But with those one gets what one pays for ... cheapo hosting ... you won't get much wiggle room/tweaking ability which will be needed when one expands from 30.  Still, better than trying to use laptop.

My 2 cents of course ... maybe a Mac fanatic/guru will step up here and offer their $1's worth! ;)

'spirit of sharing', Ken

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In reply to Holly Dunitz

Re: Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by G. M. -

Hi Holly,

Yes, the idea would be to just delete the 1.9 version; going through an upgrade is really unnecessary. Well, I didn't know you had already tried with newer versions. Now that you mention it, I recently saw another post about the FixRights issue, so it seems that whoever is in charge of that package or of the documentation, needs to see about this because, as you rightly say, installer packages should really be like, click once and have everything installed and ready to run.

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In reply to G. M.

Re: Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by Holly Dunitz -

Thank you Guillermo,

So the plan is for my mac to be the host only for testing with my coworkers. Once we see that it works, we plan to install Moodle on our actual Mac server. I am unable to share the course with my testers because I can't find where to substitute, http://localhost/moodle19/ with my IP address. Once we can check the small test course, I'll remove 1.9 and install the latest Moodle for more testing. 

Could you explain how to change "localhost" in the URL to my IP address? 

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In reply to Holly Dunitz

Re: Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by Holly Dunitz -

Figured out the IP thing. Thanks!

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In reply to Holly Dunitz

Re: Which version of Moodle is right for my Mac OSX10.6.9

by G. M. -

Yes, use your Mac for testing and development (creating courses), but do use a server for production purposes.

I know one tries to do with what one has in hand but my feeling, and I don't know much about Mac (except that I have never liked it, LOL), is that it would be easier and better if you were able to use another, more server-friendly, OS smile

I see that you already found how to change the URL... Yes

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