Combination Server 7 Requirements

Skill Set

Publishing a simple graph or map in a web page is not a complicated task. In fact, if you know how to install a basic software program, you already have enough skills to create a graph or map enabled web page using Corda Server (with a little help from the Quick Start manual, of course).

Building a full-featured data visualization system with Corda Server, however, is a different story. The exact skills required will depend upon the complexity of your project. You may need some or all of the skills mentioned below. You may find that one person within your organization posseses all of the necessary skills, or you may find it best to sub-divide Corda Server development among different individuals:

DESIGN   When producing templates (appearance files), you may find it desirable to have a background in graphic design. Of course, this is for purely aesthetic reasons. If this task is assigned to a graphic designer, the graphic designer should have some knowledge of your data (or work closely with someone who does) so that the designer can create meaningful templates.

DATA   You must first be capable of deciding what data you need to visualize, and how that data should be presented.

You will also need to be able to provide Corda Server (or your web developers) with the locations of the data to be graphed or mapped. Depending on how your data is stored, this may require a knowledge of database structures, SQL, and/or text-based data formats such as XML or CSV.

In some advanced implementations, you may need to be able write script in a language like VBScript, PERL, or Java, to translate a data result set into a format that can be interpreted by Corda Server. This task may also be performed by a web developer.

WEB DEVELOPMENT   At the very least, you will need to be able to upload files to your web server. Additionally, you should feel comfortable writing web pages with one or more of the following technologies: ASP, JSP, Java Servlets, ColdFusion Pages, PERL, PHP, .NET, or JavaScript.

Of course, you may want to assign tasks that require these skills to a designated web developer. In such cases, it is generally a good idea for the web developer to have some knowledge of SQL and data result sets, so that he or she can work closely with the person providing the data.

ADMINISTRATIVE   You will need to be able to install a basic software program.

If you are installing on a non-Windows system, or are using an Apache or Java application server, you may need to be able to install modules or libraries to your web server. Most web administrators should be able to perform this task for you. However, you may be able to complete this task without such knowledge by following the Corda Server documentation.

For enterprise configurations, you will need someone with an understanding of network architecture and clustering.

Hardware

OPERATING SYSTEM  

PROCESSOR   Equivalent of a Pentium 4 or higher

MEMORY   256MB dedicated to your Java Virtual Machine (512MB recommended if you create a lot of JPEG/PNG images)

JAVA VM   For Corda Builder 7, you need JRE 1.5 or higher

HARD DRIVE SPACE   Up to 250MB, depending on installation options and platform, plus 15 MB if you need to install a Java Virtual Machine

OTHER REQUIREMENTS   A network connection is required to serve Corda images with Corda Server.

To use the Corda Embedder, most users will require a web application server that supports one of the following languages/modules: Java, COM (Windows IIS), .NET, PHP, PERL.

To interface directly with a database, Corda Server requires a JDBC or ODBC driver for that database. Corda Server can also import tab-delimited, comma separated, and XML data, as well as data converted to the PCXML or PCScript formats.