Supporting HP TeachNow, v 1.1 update

HP TeachNow Solution

Overview

The standard HP TeachNow solution is a mix of PSG/DSO, ISS, and Microsoft components that make up a combined

hardware/software product, designed to bring low-cost computer-based instruction to the classroom. HP TeachNow

provides an easy-to-use interface for a teacher to manage a classroom full of student desktop devices, and to prepare

electronic content before the class, and then deliver that content once the class is in session.

Solution hardware components

The standard hardware components include the following:

• HP ProLiant ML110 G6 Server (or equivalent) for the HP TeachNow Server

• HP ProCurve 1810G Gbit switch (or equivalent) to provide the classroom network backplane.

Note: Consider a higher-end model for customer use cases where advanced network features like IP Routing

or Access Control Lists are needed within the design of the solution itself.

• HP st5742 or st5747 streaming thin clients (student stations). These are flashless versions of the HP t5740

thin client hardware. These units have 2GB RAM to support the streamed OS.

Note: If the customer plans to create their own streaming image, the HP 16GB SATA II IDE Solid State Flash

Drive (P/N:AZ550AA) may be required.

• A typical HP business class PC (for the teacher)

Solution components

The system consists of three major components:

• HP TeachNow server – The central server which delivers both the student desktop operating system (via

virtual disk streaming) and the lesson content to the student devices, as well as providing a web-interface

console interface (GUI) for an administrator to provision the system, and the controls that the teacher’s

application will use to control the classroom.

• Teacher application – Software that the teacher runs on a desktop or laptop to control the classroom and

deliver content to the students. The teacher’s application can run offline, for example on the Teacher’s home

computer, to prepare content, or it can connect to the HP TeachNow server, to control the devices and the

learning in the classroom.

• Student desktops – Typically HP Thin Clients that the students can use to access Microsoft desktop operating

systems (Windows XP or Windows 7).