Issue:

Network traffic estimates for Renaissance web-based applications hosted by Renaissance.

Resolution:

These estimates can be used to approximate bandwidth requirements for one or more Renaissance web-based applications hosted by Renaissance.

Below is a chart showing bytes sent to, and received from, a Renaissance site hosted by Renaissance while performing various common tasks within the applications. Only traffic to and from the client computer is represented here. The client computer was configured to run with either a supported web browser, or with the appropriate client program provided on the Renaissance Software Requirements page.

These estimates are based on best-case program use scenarios. User expertise in these scenarios was at a level with someone very familiar with the applications, so very little traffic is generated by error messages, unnecessary browser navigation, etc. Users that are of a more novice level may generate more traffic than is represented here. A district level administrator account was used to complete any task that isnt a student activity. All testing was done starting from loading the initial login page to the completion of the specified task and then logging back out.

Note: Each task was tested multiple times after the task was performed once to populate the browsers cache. The averages are posted below.

* English in a Flash was tested both with the lesson cached and not cached by the browser.

 Example:

Your K through 12 school has 2,000 students. It is the beginning of the first marking period, and you will be testing 800 students in Star Reading Enterprise. You have a computer lab with 35 computers and that is the maximum amount of students you will test at one time. You would calculate bandwidth usage as follows:

35 students x 286.7 Total KB = 10,034.5 KB for the session

Most bandwidth calculations are completed in bits, not bytes, so the following conversion is needed:

10,034.5 kilobytes (KB) x 8 (8 bits in each byte) = 80,276 kilobits (Kb) per session. This is equal to 80.276 megabits (Mb) per session.

Note: Because each Star Custom fixed-form formative assessment is a custom-created test that may include audio, video, and graphics as desired by the educator who authors it, there is no way to calculate an average bandwidth requirement. Depending upon available bandwidth and technology, districts may choose to set local limits for educators to follow regarding Star Custom test length and multimedia content.