Moodle in a Box - Pre-configured Class Software

Description Moodle is a popular web portal software that is actively being developed by the open source community in order to provide educators everywhere with tools that will allow them to build collaborative online environments for their classes. We at NCSA have packaged Moodle along with its component technologies (EasyPHP, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) and have pre-configured them in a way that will allow you to conveniently install Moodle on virtually any MS Windows machine by simply downloading and installing one executable file. Note: The software available for download on this page was only packaged by us in order to provide educators easy access to the technology. The software has been developed by the open source community and more information is available on each component by clicking on the links above.

Directions for Setting Up Moodle in a Box


Setting up Moodle is easy with Moodle in a Box! Click on the Moodle In a Box link below and save Moodle In a Box to your desktop. Next double click the Moodle in a Box setup icon on your desktop and follow the directions. When you are finished a EasyPHP dialog window will appear. If both Apache and MySQL are started, click on the underline on the top right corner of the window. Do not click on the X or Moodle In A Box will shut down.
To change any of your Moodle settings or to add a class, you will have to login as an administrator in Moodle. The username is admin and the password is moodle.

By default, Moodle in a Box is configured so that it does not automatically start when the computer starts up. If you would like to have it start up automatically, you will have to right click on the letter 'e' in your task tray (Hint: next to the date on your start menu). Next scroll down to configuration and then over to EasyPHP. Left click and a menu similar to the one below will pop up.


Click on the "Start on windows startup" checkbox and then on the apply button. Moodle should now be up and running.

Note: If you are unable to find the letter 'e' in your task tray, click on Moodle in a Box in the programs section of your start menu. This should put the letter 'e' in the task tray and turn on Moodle.

Directions for Connecting to Moodle in a Box


Step 1: Find your Moodle server's address
• If you are using Windows 95/98/ME, go to the start menu. Click on run and type "winipcfg" without the quotes. A program should appear with the IP address of your computer.
• If you are using Windows 2000/XP+, go to the start menu. Click on run and type "cmd /K ipconfig" without the quotes. Your IP address should appear on the screen. Type exit when you are finished viewing this.
  
  
  
  Step 2: Connect to Moodle
• If the Moodle in a Box is installed on the machine that you are connecting from open a web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, FireFox, Opera, etc.) and type the address: http://localhost
• If the Moodle in a Box is installed on another machine, open a web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, FireFox, Opera, etc.) and type http:// followed by the IP address that you saw in Step 1. Remember, step 1 should be completed on the machine that you installed Moodle in a Box on.
  
  If all goes well, you should have a fully functional Moodle server for your classes. If this is not the case, it may be time to contact the schools technical support staff for additional help.

Directions for Using Moodle in a Box's Advanced Chat Server



After Moodle in a box is up and running, go to the start menu, find and click on "Start Chat Server"

Note: Please do not close the black window that opens up. This window must remain open in order for the chat server to work. If this window is not open, please make sure that moodle in a box is running and repeat the above step.

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Download	Size	Release Date
Moodle In a Box v1.8.1	13.1 M	3/22/2005
Source for Modified EasyPHP	168 K	12/16/2004
NCSA Collaborative Moodle Modules	90 K	9/21/2005
License Agreement	18 K	12/16/2004

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