In every release, Blackboard devotes time and resources to make Blackboard Learn run on the latest operating systems, databases, and browsers available, with the goal of creating a system that is more manageable, more stable, and more user friendly.
This section highlights the major changes to the Supported Technologies and Browsers for this release. For the most up-to-date information, see Blackboard Learn Release 9.1 Q4 2015 Supported Technologies and Browsers and Supported Technologies End User available on the Behind the Blackboard.
In order to more clearly define support statements regarding third-party client technologies, Blackboard no longer classifies support for technologies in terms of 'compatible' or 'certified'. These technologies are now either fully supported or not supported. Supported and unsupported technologies are aligned as closely as possible with third-party vendor support policies.
- Supported: Supported by the vendor and Blackboard.
- Unsupported: Unsupported by the vendor or not supported by Blackboard.
64-bit server configurations
| Application Server / JDK 1.7 | SQL Server 2012 Enterprise & Standard | Oracle 12c | Oracle 11gR2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2012 R1/R2 | Supported | Supported | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5 | Supported | Unsupported | Supported | Supported |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 6 | Supported | Unsupported | Supported | Supported |
| Sun Solaris 10 | Supported | Unsupported | Supported | Supported |
| Sun Solaris 11 | Supported | Unsupported | Supported | Supported |
Configuration notes
- The Oracle Advanced Security option is not supported at this time.
- Only SQL Server 2012 Enterprise and Standard Editions are supported.
Non-English operating systems and databases
Non-English operating systems and databases, such as a Chinese-language version of Oracle, are supported with Blackboard Learn.
High-availability database configurations
It is strongly recommended by Blackboard that for purposes of system management Blackboard Learn be installed on a single instance database. Oracle RAC and Microsoft SQL Server AlwaysOn are high-availability configurations from their respective vendors. If for reasons of institutional policy you must run Blackboard Learn in a RAC or AlwaysOn database configuration you may do so, but Blackboard will only support the installation at the Learn-to-database JDBC layer - not at the database layer. Issues encountered at the JDBC layer will be accepted as support incidents, and escalated and triaged according to standard Product Support procedures. Other issues encountered at the database will have to be addressed with the database vendor. If you are unable to address database issues at the database layer in these configurations, Product Support will recommend switching to a single instance database configuration for continued support.
To learn more about running Blackboard Learn with RAC, see Oracle RAC Support.
Blackboard offers support for RAC with all versions of Oracle supported by Blackboard. For information about running Blackboard Learn with RAC, see Oracle RAC Support on UNIX.
Hybrid configurations
Red Hat/Solaris hybrid configurations have not been tested and are not supported.
TLS configuration
Blackboard Learn now only runs over TLS. To learn more, see the TLS Configuration section of Install and Upgrade.
Java platform (Java SE JDK support)
JDK 1.7 is supported. Other versions are not currently supported.
Virtualization
VMware® ESX Server 5 (Linux® and Windows®) is the only configuration tested by Blackboard for Release 9.1.
Blackboard supports other virtualization solutions as long as Blackboard and the hypervisor support the guest operating system.
In addition to VMware, Blackboard has experience with Citrix XenServer 5.5, Solaris 10 Zones and Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® 4 & 5 Xen
