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 topic 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 Q2 2019 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 OpenJDK 11 Corretto* | SQL Server 2017 Enterprise & Standard** | Oracle 12cR2, 18c, 19c**,*** | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Server 2016 | Supported | Supported | Unsupported |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 7.x | Supported | Unsupported | Supported |
* Support for OpenJDK 11 Corretto is the primary change with this release.
** Server AlwaysOn for SQL Server and RAC configurations for Oracle aren't officially supported.
*** Oracle ASO (Advanced Security configuration) isn't supported.
**** Blackboard only supports the installation at the Learn-to-database JDBC layer, not at the database layer. Issues encountered up to the JDBC layer are accepted as support incidents, and escalated and triaged according to standard Product Support procedures. Other issues encountered at the database layer need to be addressed with the database vendor.
Configuration notes
See the supported browsers for Blackboard Learn 9.1 Q4 2019
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.
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 (OpenJDK 11 Corretto support)
JDK11 versions 11.0.10 and higher aren't compatible. We recommend you to use JDK 11.0.9_* versions only.
The primary change with this release is the transition to using OpenJDK 11 Corretto as the supported version of Java. Ongoing support and maintenance for the Java implementation in this release will be provided by Amazon. As part of the installation procedure, administrators should install the JDK for Java 11. When selecting the Java location during installation, specify the new location of the new Java installation.
For institutions using Oracle database, support for 19c has been added and is recommended given that 12cR2 and 18c will go out of active support by Oracle during the support lifetime of 9.1 Q4 2019. It is possible to start with one of the other supported versions of Oracle and transition to 19c separately from the Learn application upgrade. Versions of RHEL 7 supported by Red Hat are supported with this release.
Minimum system requirements:
- 8GB per Learn application server
- 24GB per Oracle server
Notes:
- This is the minimum JVM memory required to run Blackboard Learn.
- To run the Blackboard database and handle all of its databases, a minimum of 24GB per Oracle server are required.
- If your Blackboard Learn application server and Oracle server run on a standalone server, the minimum requirements are combined (32GB).
Virtualization
VMware® ESX Server (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 and Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® Xen.
Supported upgrade paths
Blackboard Product Development certifies upgrades directly from two prior releases:
