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== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==


According to the [], {{quotation|The Open edX platform is a free--and open source--course management system (CMS) that was originally developed by edX. The Open edX platform is used all over the world to host Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as well as smaller classes and training modules.}}
In 2019, the [https://open.edx.org/ Open edX homepage] stated that {{quotation|edX is the online learning destination co-founded by Harvard and MIT. Open edX is the learner-centric, massively scalable learning platform behind it. Originally envisioned as a MOOC platform, Open edX has evolved into one of the leading learning platforms catering to Higher Ed, enterprise, and government organizations alike.}}


== Installation ==
In 2017, [https://open.edx.org/ the same homepage] had a more focused vision, {{quotation|The Open edX platform is a free--and open source--course management system (CMS) that was originally developed by edX. The Open edX platform is used all over the world to host Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as well as smaller classes and training modules.}}


=== Installation of a test system under Ubuntu 16 ===
See also:
* [[Open edX installation and configuration]]


There are [https://openedx.atlassian.net/wiki/display/OpenOPS/Open+edX+Installation+Options many different ways to install and run an edX server].
== Administering Open EdX ==


If you have free access to a server machine, the easiest method is probably installing the "bitnami" stack ([https://bitnami.com/stack/edx/README.txt README.txt] file. It will install a complete software pack in a separate directory including web servers, database servers, several programming languages, etc. The version we tried included:
The administration interface is available only through the localhost (server machine)
  - Open edX eucalyptus.3
* http://localhost:81/admin
  - Apache 2.4.25
  - Elasticsearch 0.90.11
  - Erlang 17.4
  - Java 1.8.0_121
  - Memcached 1.4.35
  - MongoDB 2.6.12
  - Mysql 5.6.35
  - Node.js 6.10.0
  - Python 2.7.13
  - RabbitMQ 3.6.8
  - Rails 4.2.8
  - Ruby 2.1.10
  - RubyGems 1.8.12


If your machine already runs web servers, data base servers, etc. it will use other ports. From the README file: {{quotation|The default listening port for Apache is 8080, for Elasticsearch 9300, for Memcached 11211, for MongoDB 27017, for MySQL is 3306, for RabbitMQ 5672, for Open edX XQueue 18040 and 18010 for Open edX CMS. If those ports are already in use by other applications, you will be prompted for alternate ports to use.}} This does of course require that you allow that...
This means that you either have to create a tunnel to run a navigator or else launch a firefox on the server and use X windows to display, e.g. if you got your own Linux machine:
ssh server.machine -XY
firefox --new-instance


'''Installation summary'''
It can be configured to be available here (same port as edx-studio)
* http://yoursite:18010/admin/


[[file:bitnami-console.png|thumb|300px|right|Bitnami console (after a succesful install)]]
Read more in:
Here are the steps:
* [[Open edX installation and configuration]]
* Get the <code>LOCAL INSTALL</code> OpenEx installer from https://bitnami.com/stack/edx
* Make the file executable:
chmod a+x bitnami-edx-eucalyptus.3-0-linux-x64-installer.run
* Create an empty directory somewhere
mkdir /path_yours/edx
* Run the installer (and wait for a very long time)
./bitnami-edx-eucalyptus.3-0-linux-x64-installer.run
: In the beginning it will ask your for an admin login, mail and password. It also requires SMTP information (anonymous is not allowed, so need an account). Alternatively you can use a gmail address.
: '''Important'''. You won't have to wait for a few minutes, but for a very long time, e.g. about 30 minutes on an older but idle Ubuntu 16 box.
* Launch it once the installer is done. You will get a little console (see picture to the right). This console is fairly useless if you are connected through an terminal. Instead you could run the following:
cd your_installation_directory
./ctlscript.sh status
: This will not mean that you actually can use the server, since you very likely may have a firewall that blocks outside access to your server.
: To test in the terminal if the server is actually working your could just type <code>wget localhost:8000</code> (adapt the port number).


Now if you plan to use this as a little production environment
== Creating a course ==
* Open the firewall.
* you should tell your system to launch this script at boot time. E.g. [http://askubuntu.com/questions/814/how-to-run-scripts-on-start-up read this].


=== To start/stop the server ===
By default, any registered user can create a course. We find that really strange given all these annoying security features that otherwise imposed. However, in a production system, the administrator may have disabled course creating for non staff members (see [[Open edX installation and configuration]]


You can use the included ctlscript.sh utility:
For creating courses one is supposed to use studio, but someone will have to tell you where to find it. I will, but you also can read [http://docs.edx.org/ the official documentation]
ctlscript.sh start|stop|restart


EdX will be available on the selected port, e.g.
If you configured your firewall as suggested above, then it is here:
http://yourserver_ip_or_name:8080
* <code>http://yoursite:edx_port/edx-studio</code> (this will then redirect)


* http://yoursite:18010/ (the EdX-Studio website)
: Yes it runs by default on port 18010 !


Creating a course is very simple:
* Hit the big green button and fill in the form
* Add instructors as needed (you need to know their email address and they must have signed up with edX with that email).


[[File:Edx-studio-1.png|600px|thumb|none|edX studio - Creating a course]]


The same company also allows installing the virtual server plugs
== Authoring a course ==
 
[[File:Edx-studio-3.png|600px|thumb|none|edX studio - Organizing the course]]
 
[[File:Edx-studio-2.png|600px|thumb|none|edX studio - Adding content to a unit]]
 
== Links ==
 
=== Official documentation ===
 
The documentation is spread over several places.
 
* http://docs.edx.org/
 
* [https://open.edx.org/getting-help Getting help]. Provides a list of online resources.
 
* [http://edx.readthedocs.io/projects/edx-installing-configuring-and-running/en/latest/index.html Installing, Configuring, and Running the Open edX Platform]. As we described in [[Open edX installation and configuration]], for testing purposes, it is much easier to start with the Bitnami stack. However, this document still includes important documentation on configuration that one should read.
 
* [http://docs.edx.org/ Documentation for edx.org and the Open edX Community]
** [http://edx.readthedocs.io/projects/edx-partner-course-staff/en/latest/ Building and Running an edX Course Instructions for course teams that are creating courses to run on the edx.org website.]
** [http://edx.readthedocs.io/projects/edx-guide-for-students/en/latest/ EdX Learner's Guide Help for learners taking a course on edx.org.]
 
* [https://openedx.atlassian.net/wiki/display/OpenOPS/Managing+OpenEdX+Tips+and+Tricks Managing OpenEdX Tips and Tricks]
 
* [https://openedx.slackarchive.io/general/ Slack archive] (even if you do not believe that knowledge should be conversational ...)
 
 
[[category: open education]]

Latest revision as of 16:33, 25 May 2019

Introduction

In 2019, the Open edX homepage stated that “edX is the online learning destination co-founded by Harvard and MIT. Open edX is the learner-centric, massively scalable learning platform behind it. Originally envisioned as a MOOC platform, Open edX has evolved into one of the leading learning platforms catering to Higher Ed, enterprise, and government organizations alike.”

In 2017, the same homepage had a more focused vision, “The Open edX platform is a free--and open source--course management system (CMS) that was originally developed by edX. The Open edX platform is used all over the world to host Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as well as smaller classes and training modules.”

See also:

Administering Open EdX

The administration interface is available only through the localhost (server machine)

This means that you either have to create a tunnel to run a navigator or else launch a firefox on the server and use X windows to display, e.g. if you got your own Linux machine: 

ssh server.machine -XY
firefox --new-instance

It can be configured to be available here (same port as edx-studio)

Read more in:

Creating a course

By default, any registered user can create a course. We find that really strange given all these annoying security features that otherwise imposed. However, in a production system, the administrator may have disabled course creating for non staff members (see Open edX installation and configuration

For creating courses one is supposed to use studio, but someone will have to tell you where to find it. I will, but you also can read the official documentation

If you configured your firewall as suggested above, then it is here:

Yes it runs by default on port 18010 !

Creating a course is very simple:

  • Hit the big green button and fill in the form
  • Add instructors as needed (you need to know their email address and they must have signed up with edX with that email).
edX studio - Creating a course

Authoring a course

edX studio - Organizing the course
edX studio - Adding content to a unit

Links

Official documentation

The documentation is spread over several places.

  • Slack archive (even if you do not believe that knowledge should be conversational ...)
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