This F.A.Q. is intended to provide some
basic information about the technical specifications of a Docutek
ERes or Docutek VRLplus system. If you would like answers to
specific questions, please contact the Docutek Support
team for more information.
Are the Docutek ERes and Docutek VRLplus access
statistics kept on a central server or on the server of each customer?
Our systems store all statistical information
in a special database that resides on the customer's server. There
are many reports that are generated upon request that can provide
you with valuable information about how your system is being used.
Here is a sample of some of the reports that can be generated:
- Docutek ERes system usage, either for the entire system or by
individual course Web sites
- Document usage, by course Web site and document
- Number of Docutek VRLplus sessions, by librarian name,
date, session duration, etc.
- Electronic Document Delivery (EDDplus) usage, by number of requests,
documents delivered, date, etc.
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What software do we need on our server to allow for the
installation, maintenance and upgrades?
As part of your installation and maintenance contract, the Docutek
Support Team will need to remotely access your server on periodic
basis. There are several 3rd party software products available for
download that will allow us to do this; . we have found the Terminal
Services connection in Windows 2000 Server to be the fastest and most
reliable, followed by Microsoft NetMeeting (Win2000 and Win2003). Below
is a listing of all the remote access methods Docutek currently supports:
- Microsoft Terminal Services (Windows 2000 Server only)
- Microsoft NetMeeting
- Symantec pcAnywhere
- Remotely Anywhere
- AT&T WinVNC
The Docutek Support Team will use one of the above methods to both
install your software and provide you with necessary maintenance
and upgrades. All of this is included in your license agreement
at the time of purchase. Most customers choose to let us have access
to their servers on a 24x7 basis, but some choose to provide access
upon request only...both are acceptable for our support needs.
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What kind of hardware and software are needed to use
a Docutek system as an administrator or patron/student?
The only requirement to use Docutek's software - for all users -
is a PC, Machintosh or UNIX computer with an internet connection
and a Web browser. We do recommend that you use the latest supported
releases of either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer,
no matter which operating system you have. We have found the most
stable browser to be Internet Explorer 6.x followed by the FireFox (Mozilla) 1.x release.
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Should we protect the server with a firewall or does
the software have built-in protection?
While Docutek ERes and Docutek VRLplus does a good job of
protecting your data from access within the application itself,
it may be a good idea to protect your server with a firewall. In
general, high speed servers with quick, always-on internet connections
are a tempting target for hacker attacks. It is a good idea to limit
port access on your server to reduce the number of open doors that
could let malicious users in. If you are interested in getting more
information about setting up a Docutek system in a firewall environment,
please contact the Docutek Support Team.
Periodic monitoring of your server, its network activity, and the
Microsoft security Website is as important for system security as
having a firewall. Often there are signs something is wrong with
the server before any major damage has occurred, and recognizing
these signs can result in big savings in terms of time and aggravation.
. You should be sure to check your Web and FTP logs periodically
to look for strange behavior. It is also recommended that you apply
the latest security patches, critical updates, and service packs
when the become available to reduce the number of known security
holes in the operating system and IIS.
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What are the hardware and software requirements for
the Docutek server?
Our systems can be run on relatively inexpensive computers. A typical
one costs anywhere from $1500 to perhaps $10,000, depending on how
much power, disk drive space, and memory is required.. With hardware
prices always falling, most institutions choose a machine that is
more powerful than necessary to extend the "lifespan" of the server.
Currently, we recommend a Pentium III, Pentium 4, Xeon or AMD
processor, with at least 512MB of RAM and no less than 9GB of additional storage space.
Many customers opt for redundant RAID 5 disk arrays, load-balanced
network cards, dual processors and dual power supplies to increase
both server speed and robustness. Ultimately, the hardware selection
will be best judged by your institution's IT staff since metrics
such as student enrollment (FTE) and the number of items to be placed
on reserve will vary greatly from school to school. The Docutek
Support Team would be happy to discuss hardware options tailored to your specfic needs.
Docutek recommends that those purchasing new hardware for one of
our products use the Windows2000 or Windows2003 Server platform. Following Microsoft's lead,
Docutek will no longer support new installations on the Windows NT platform. The Docutek Support
Team will be glad to review any hardware and software combinations that you are considering for your server.
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What browser cookie settings should I have set to view
documents within Docutek ERes?
The Docutek ERes system uses session cookies to track information
associated with your activity during a session. This is to ensure
that only authorized users view the material. This information is
temporary and is discarded the instant that your session terminates.
The following describes the settings that are necessary for you
to be able to access documents within the Docutek ERes system. Click
here
for information about the specific browser that you are using.
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