Monitoring the server
The Monitor tab shows how hard the server is working and the health of its hardware. You do not need to watch it day to day, but it is the first place to look when Academium feels slow.
What it shows
| Area | Shows |
|---|---|
| Uptime | How long the server has been running |
| Application server and Database server | How much processing power and memory each part of Academium is using |
| Memory | How much of the computer's memory is used and available |
| Disk | How much space is used and free on the drive holding your school's records |
| Network | Data coming in from staff and going out to them |
| Charts | The last five minutes, to spot a spike |
On Windows, choose Numbers or Charts to switch between figures and graphs.
Warnings and what to do
| Warning | What to do |
|---|---|
| Drive failure indicators detected | Back up now, to an external drive, and replace the drive before it fails. Data loss is likely if you wait. |
| Drive health warning | Back up and plan to replace the drive. |
| Running hot | Check the computer's ventilation. Long periods of heat shorten a drive's life. |
| A fan has failed (Linux) | Check the computer before it overheats. |
| This is a mechanical hard drive / HDD detected — SSD recommended | Not urgent. A solid-state drive makes Academium faster, especially with many people using it at once. |
| Low disk space | Free up space, or move old backups to an external drive. |
| High load | Many people are using the server at once. If it continues, consider a more powerful computer. |
On Linux, if the panel says the drive does not report health information, or that there are no temperature or fan sensors, that is normal for some computers and USB drive boxes. The disk-space figures are still accurate.
Network quality (Windows)
When many computers are connected, for example during a computer-based test, Windows shows how well the network is keeping up:
| Rating | Means |
|---|---|
| Good | Normal. |
| Degraded | Noticeable slowdown. Wired connections help. |
| Critical | People may see time-outs. Reduce connections, and stop other downloads or video on the network. |
The rating compares the current speed with the best speed seen recently, so it works whether you have 3 users or 100.