MOODLE and Other MOODLE and Other Database Database

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KPIs MonitoringKPIs Monitoring

• Student Centered Learning (Education Act.)– Technology integrated learning– Life Long Learning

• Internal quality assurance KPIs monitoring• External quality assurance KPIs monitoring• University management monitoring• Learning achievement monitoring• University ranging

Database IntegrationDatabase Integration

• Various existing information systems• Student Information System

– Student Portfolio (AVS, Oracle)– Student Enrolment (AVS, Oracle)

• Staff Information System– Mailing System (LDAP)– Personnel System (FoxPro)– e-Office (MS SQL)– Management Information System (Oracle)

Various Database UseVarious Database Use

• MySQL• MS SQL• Oracle• Generic ODBC• FoxPro• PostgreSQL• LDAP• IMAP• RADIUS

MOODLE Base MOODLE Base DatabaseDatabase

• MOODLE database is recommended to be neither MySQL or PostgreSQL

• There is no easy solution for using other database, so it is not recommended

• Integrate by using connection tools that embedded in MOODLE– Authentication– Enrolment

ADODB ConnectivityADODB Connectivity

• MOODLE runs on FreeBSD, Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows

• MOODLE is compatible with a huge range of databases through ADODB (Active Data Objects Database) integration

• ADODB supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, Interbase, Firebird, Informix, Oracle, MS SQL, Foxpro, Access, ADO, Sybase, FrontBase, DB2, SAP DB, SQLite, Netezza, LDAP, and generic ODBC, ODBTP

KKU OpenLDAP KKU OpenLDAP ServerServer

Student Information Student Information SystemSystem

Authentication Authentication MechanismMechanism

KKU LDAP Server KKU LDAP Server (Faculties)(Faculties)

External Database External Database (Students)(Students)

Synchronisation and Synchronisation and MappingMapping

Enrolment MethodsEnrolment Methods

External Database External Database EnrolmentEnrolment

Database Enrolment Database Enrolment ConditionsConditions

• Course idnumber between two databases must be identical

• Large database search may slowdown both MOODLE server and external database server

• More than 250,000 records for KKU enrolment

• Redundant external database server may needed

Oracle ConnectionOracle Connection

• ADODB with PHP and Oracle• Oracle instant client have to be

installed in MOODLE server• PHP requires oci8 extension• OCI8 extension is the standard method

for accessing Oracle 8i, 9i or 10g (and later)

• Coding requires ADODB library (MOODLE is ADODB ready)

oci8 Extension for oci8 Extension for PHPPHP

How to: http://e-learning.kku.ac.th/mediawiki/index.php/Admin_Tips:Oracle_and_Ubuntu_ConnectionHow to: http://e-learning.kku.ac.th/mediawiki/index.php/Admin_Tips:Oracle_and_Ubuntu_Connection

MOODLE ADODB MOODLE ADODB LibraryLibrary

• Locate at lib/adodb/drivers• External database character set must

be known for Thai (UTF-8 is the common one)

• External database character set must be indentify in MOODLE configuration pages.

External Database External Database SettingSetting

• Create view table for ADODB read-only connection (user authentication needed)

• Data mapping on required parameters– User field– Course field

• Institution ICT policy in place• Personal connection between

programmers speed up the connection!

Recommended ServerRecommended Server

• Linux-based webserver running Apache.

• PHP with PHP accelerator• Webserver and database server should

sit on separate machines• For a large site, load-balance and

MySQL cluster may be necessary

Large Site Large Site ConfigurationConfiguration

Institute of Learning and Teaching Institute of Learning and Teaching InnovationInnovation

IT Center BuildingKhon Kaen University

Khon Kaen, 40002THAILAND

Tel/Fax. 0-4320-2899e-mail: ilti@kku.ac.th

Web: http://ilti.kku.ac.th/

MOODLE: http://e-learning.kku.ac.th/