For this course it's essential you have a test environment. This week we look at some options for how to install and setup a suitable test environment:
- Downloading & installing VirtualBox
- Downloading & installing Ubuntu LTS
- Building & Configuring your Virtual Machine
- Testing Networking
- Configuring Remote Access via SSH
- Getting your Virtual Machine up to date
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
What are services, which do we need, and why? Running more service than you need can dramatically affect the performance of your site:
- Defining your goals for a Moodle server
- Choosing the appropriate services
- Installing and configuring the services
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
Now we need to get Moodle installed. There are a few different ways, and which you use depends on a whole range of factors. Updating Moodle is also vital too.
- Choosing a method for downloading Moodle
- Configuring and testing your environment for Moodle
- Installing Moodle and setting up cron jobs
- Updating Moodle (git)
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
No-one likes a slow server - whether it's file sharing, email, or Moodle! Lots of options available, but understanding how to get the best out of your Moodle server is not always obvious.
- Choosing a Caching Method
- Setting up Caching (FPC)
- Setting up Readahead
- Optimizing Services
- PHP configuration
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
Security is both fascinating and confusing! But as a sever administrator of your Moodle site it's something you can simply never overlook, and also have to understand it's a constant and moving field.
- Securing SSH with certificates
- Securing Services (Apache; MySQL etc.)
- Securing Moodle (file permissions etc.)
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
Server backup is essential, period. There are also many tools available for monitoring your Moodle server, and these help you become proactive - seeing potential issues before they ever impact on your production site.
- Server Snapshotting (VirtualBox)
- Backing up individual folders and files
- Setting up Cron Jobs for maintenance and backups
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
There is little point having a highly optimised server if you then don't configure Moodle in the best and most appropriate way! This week we work through the Moodle specific settings.
- Security reports
- System recommendations
- Security policies
- Notifications
- Increasing privacy
- Reducing spam
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
This is a final 'catchall' week - for small items that do not fit neatly into the earlier weeks. This week also allows participants to revisit earlier topics with the benefit of hindsight, to set-up and maintain networking links, to share end-of-course comments and feedback.
- Hardening your server
- Tweaking your server
- Other content is constantly being revised and often participant led
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard
This area is for MoodleBites Server Administrators to access a Certificate of Achievement and Open Badge.
- Facilitator: Gareth Barnard