1.0 Overview Configuration for TestNav Network User Capacity Testing Volume Calculator... 5

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1 Copyright 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. Published October 1, 2012

2 1.0 Overview Who Should Use This Guide Configuration for TestNav Network User Capacity Testing Volume Calculator Scenarios Using the Test Volume Calculator Testing Parameters... 6 TestNav is a trademark of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved. 2

3 1.0 Overview The online System Check utility for TestNav is designed to help district and local technology personnel to better assess the overall readiness for online testing in advance of scheduled testing dates. Network infrastructure readiness is a key component in assessing and planning for online testing. High-stakes assessments that are delivered online can present district and school networks with an uncommon use case, as the most typical state procedures for testing result in most students beginning their tests virtually simultaneously. In some districts, across multiple campuses and buildings, there can be hundreds or even thousands of computers all trying to access similar or identical data streams within just a few minutes of each other. For this reason, the Network User Capacity and Testing Volume Calculator tabs are both provided to help you understand and prepare for the volume of data traffic during testing, in order to help prevent problems associated with local data congestion within a district s network infrastructure. The Network User Capacity tab provides a data throughput check that gives an assessment of the actual data transfer speeds that would occur as well as an estimated number of concurrent testers that can be supported for a given test if the testing were to occur at the same moment the test is run. This result, however, may not accurately represent the constraints as they will exist when testing actually occurs, especially if network conditions will be significantly different from their state when the test is run. The Testing Volume Calculator tab provides a tool for modeling and calculating the anticipated throughput and student testing volumes planned for the scheduled date of testing. Since the calculation is based on network speed and expected utilization, this is a purely theoretical calculation. For most effective use, district and school staff should employ both Network User Capacity and Testing Volume Calculator utilities, and make sure that any significant discrepancies between current throughput and expected throughput speeds can be accounted for by known or planned differences in network activity on the date of testing. Note that the online System Check utility works only on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms. 1.1 Who Should Use This Guide This document is designed to provide a combination of real world testing configurations and can also be used for capacity planning. The audience is primarily network or IT personnel who are responsible for setting up and configuring a school s test delivery environment prior to online testing. 2.0 Configuration for TestNav The TestNav tab checks to make sure the computer meets the minimum software requirements to deliver tests online. You should run this test in your system browser, which is Internet Explorer if you are using Windows or Safari if you are using Macintosh. To run the computer configuration 1. Select the TestNav tab. 2. Click Start to begin the check. 3

4 If the computer passes the check, a green check mark displays next to All Checks Passed. If the computer fails the check, a red X displays next to the area that failed. 3. To print the results in PDF, click Print Friendly. 3.0 Network User Capacity Network User Capacity does a speed check in real-time. To run network user capacity 1. Select the Network User Capacity tab. 2. Click Start and review the results for connectivity issues. The Student Testing Capacity is calculated using the download/upload speeds and the average test size for the test administration displayed in the drop-down menu. Note that the test administration drop-down appears after the Start button is pressed and the download/upload speeds have been assessed. Changing the test administration changes the student testing capacity, but the download and upload speed stay the same. Do not use the Add Caching Server button. 4

5 3. Click Print Friendly at any time after the test has completed to print the results. You can print a report of any page when the Print Friendly button shows. 4.0 Testing Volume Calculator The Testing Volume Calculator allows you to run planned scenarios by adjusting network speed, network capacity, and the number of students testing concurrently to find the optimal testing performance. Network capacity is based on the connection speed from the workstation to the Pearson site. If you have selected more than one proctor caching computer, the testing volume calculator uses the one with the fastest download speed. The Testing Volume Calculator uses a combination of calculated results from the Network User Capacity tab and planned results from the Testing Volume Calculator to derive the performance interpretation for online testing. Note that you may see incomplete results if you have not generated calculated results via the network user capacity estimate. 4.1 Scenarios Various uses for the Testing Volume Calculator include estimates related to these real-life examples: Scenario 1: School is using wired network Calculation: Adjust the Available link speed control to reflect the speed of the lowest network segment between the student and the school ISP. Adjust the Average network utilization control to reflect the NON-testing network utilization on that same segment. Scenario 2: School will be performing wireless testing and would like to determine the theoretical maximum number of students that can be tested on a wireless network. Calculation: Adjust the Available link speed control to reflect the speed of the wireless access point to be used during online testing. Adjust the Average network utilization control to reflect the NON-testing wireless utilization on that same wireless access point. 4.2 Using the Test Volume Calculator To generate a testing volume calculation 1. Select a test administration. 2. Enter the number of students testing concurrently. 3. Adjust the green slider bar to identify the maximum local network speed to the work station (disregard the mention of Proctor Caching as it is not used) a link speed. As the link speed slider is adjusted, note the changes under the Common network speeds, Outputs, and Interpretation headings. The data in each of these sections adjusts accordingly to provide an assessment of testing conditions based on the selections. 5

6 4. Adjust the second green slider to identify an average network utilization rate of the local network (disregard the mention of Proctor Caching as it is not used). As the average network utilization slider is adjusted, data under the Common network speeds, Outputs, and Interpretation headings also adjusts. The network speeds go from 0.1 Mb/s to 1000 Mb/s. Be aware of the output number on the left because it changes as you adjust the sliders. 5. Review the information under the Interpretation heading as you made each change. 4.3 Testing Parameters The following table describes the testing parameters and the interpretation results in the Testing Volume Calculator screen: 6

7 Parameters are fields and sliders you can adjust to simulate different scenarios for the day the students take the online test. The goal is to find the optimum conditions for online testing. 1 Test Administrations To check performance in a specific test administration (based on an average test size for that test administration), select that test administration from the drop-down menu. 2 Number of students testing concurrently Default is the number of students testing concurrently for the listed test administration. To check performance using more or fewer students, increase or decrease the number of students testing concurrently. 3 4 Network Environment Parameters Available link speed between workstations and proctor caching computers Average network utilization for the network between workstations and proctor caching computers. This indicates the available link speed to the maximum network speed your location uses. This indicates the average network utilization to the percent of bandwidth used for non-testing purposes. 5 Common network speeds This table helps the user estimate the available link speed between workstations and proctor caching computers if they know what network line their school uses. 7

8 6 Green bar - Average available network throughput for buffering: 7 Blue bar Required data transfer rate during buffering The green bar represents the network speed and increases if the school uses a fast network line and decreases if the school uses a slower network line. The chart stays in the white as long as the network speed can be supported by the computer, and will change to yellow, then red as the network speed increases to an unsustainable network link speed. The blue bar measures the data transfer rate during buffering. The more students that are testing concurrently, the higher this bar goes. When the computer can no longer support the number of students testing concurrently, the bar raises and the color of the chart turns yellow, then red. Interpretation explains planned and calculated results based the controls you select and how they affect testing performance. The goal is to find the right combination of link speed and students testing that results in a normal performance during testing. Interpretation 8 9 Calculated results Planned results Calculated results are based on data obtained in the Network User Capacity screen. Planned results are based on the information entered in the Testing Volume Calculator screen Maximum Concurrent TestNav Users 2. Calculated results 3. Planned results The first number represents the maximum number of students testing concurrently and the second number is the download network speed. The calculated results are based on data obtained in the Network User Capacity screen. They reflect the general size of the test administration selected. The planned results are based on your selections in this Testing Volume Calculator screen. Set the number of students testing concurrently to the number you anticipate will be testing on testing day. Set the Available link speed to the maximum network speed your location uses. Set the Average network utilization to the percent of bandwidth used for non-testing purposes. 8

9 11 Indicates students should experience normal performance during testing. Indicates students may experience slow or poor performance during testing as determined by the planned conditions, But the calculated network speed indicates that the students should experience normal performance. This icon also shows if an admin has not been selected or if the user has not completed the network user capacity test. Indicates students may experience slow or poor performance during testing unless the user resets some parameters. 9