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Moodle 4 Administration
Moodle 4 Administration

Moodle 4 Administration: An administrator's guide to configuring, securing, customizing, and extending Moodle , Fourth Edition

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Moodle 4 Administration

Exploring the Moodle System

Now that your Moodle system is up and running, we will look at the components that make up the learning platform. Think of these as the foundation on which Moodle is built.

In this chapter, you will learn about the architecture of Moodle, what the main components of Moodle are, and where its data is stored. Moodle has a modern and intuitive user interface that takes a little bit of time to get used to. You will learn about its main navigation and where to find help if required. Dealing with files in web-based applications is not always straightforward. Therefore, you will learn how Moodle’s file management works and how to configure the recycle bin.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

  • Understanding the Moodle architecture
  • Navigating Moodle as an administrator
  • File management in Moodle
  • Recycle bin

By the end of this chapter, you will know more about how Moodle is structured internally, how to work with it as an admin, and how files are managed.

Understanding the Moodle architecture

First, we will look at the overall architecture on which Moodle is based before we cover the internal components of the LMS’s application layer.

We will take a top-down approach and look at the overall architecture first before zooming into how Moodle Core is structured. We will conclude at the lowest level, where we will be dealing with files and the management thereof.

The LAMP architecture

Moodle has been developed on the open-source LAMP framework, which consists of Linux (operating system), Apache (web server), MySQL (database), and PHP (programming language). Due to the portability of these components and the modularity of Moodle itself (that’s what the “M” stands for), a wide range of operating systems, database systems, and web servers are supported. However, while Moodle runs on other technology stacks, we will focus on LAMP since it has proven the most popular setup among Moodle administrators.

The following diagram shows a simple overview of the overall architecture:

Figure 2.1 – Moodle’s overall architecture

Figure 2.1 – Moodle’s overall architecture

Let’s have a closer look at the components of Moodle’s overall architecture:

  • Moodle Core is what is often referred to when people talk about Moodle. This is also what we installed in the previous chapter and will be covered in this book.
  • Moodle plugins: While Moodle Core is a powerful and comprehensive LMS, few sites solely rely on the base system. Instead, add-on modules supplement the feature set of standard Moodle to customize the platform to individual requirements. These add-ons are called Moodle plugins and are mostly community-contributed additions to standard Moodle, extending its functionality for a specific use case. At the time of writing, there are almost 2,000 (!) entries in the official Moodle plugins database at moodle.org/plugins.

Important note

Moodle LMS is effectively standard Moodle plus – optionally – one or many Moodle plugins.

An exciting set of plugins has been made available by Moodle HQ. Moodle Workplace is a commercial offering designed for corporate and organizational training, resulting in a powerful and flexible platform for workplace learning. More information on Moodle Workplace can be found at moodle.com/workplace or in the title Corporate Learning with Moodle Workplace, by Packt Publishing.

  • PHP is the programming language in which Moodle is written (accompanied by HTML, JavaScript, and CSS files). It is the only component that cannot be replaced with any other counterpart. Specific PHP libraries must be installed – see Chapter 1, Installing Moodle.
  • MySQL is the database of choice for most opensource applications, but other systems, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL, are fully supported. MariaDB, a MySQL fork, has become very popular among Moodle administrators after Oracle acquired MySQL.
  • Apache has become the de facto standard for large-scale web applications, closely followed by Microsoft IIS. Both web servers are supported like any other that supports PHP, such as nginx. This book will focus on Apache, the most popular option for Moodle setups.
  • Operating system: The lowest level is the operating system. While Linux is the preferred platform – since this is where all code is developed and tested –other operating systems are also supported, such as Windows, Mac OS X, and various Unix derivatives.

The following diagram shows the interaction among the elements in the Moodle architecture:

Figure 2.2 – Moodle’s interaction among underlying components

Figure 2.2 – Moodle’s interaction among underlying components

The user makes requests via the web browser interface or a mobile Moodle application. The web browser passes the request to the web server(s), which calls the PHP module responsible for the call. The PHP module calls the database(s) with an action (a query, update, insert, or delete operation) that returns the requested data. Based on this information, the PHP module returns data (usually in HTML or JavaScript) to the web server(s), which passes the information to be displayed back to the user’s browser or application.

The component of most interest to us is Moodle Core, which we will dive into in more detail next.

Moodle Core

Now, let’s look at the Moodle Core layer in more detail. Moodle’s main building blocks are shown in the following diagram:

Figure 2.3 – Moodle’s building blocks

Figure 2.3 – Moodle’s building blocks

Moodle distinguishes between code (primarily written in PHP, HTML, and CSS) and data (mostly values and files added via the Moodle interface).

Moodle libraries, modules (such as resources and activities), blocks, plugins, admin tools, and other entities are represented in code. It is always stored in the filesystem in a Moodle directory referred to as dirroot, which was specified during the installation process in the previous chapter. The code includes all the elements that deal with the backend (server) and frontend (user interface) operations.

Moodle courses, users, roles, groups, competencies, learning plans, grades, and other data, such as learning resources added by educators, forum posts added by learners, and system settings added by the administrator, are mostly stored in the Moodle database. However, files such as user pictures or uploaded assignments are stored in another Moodle directory, known as moodledata, located in a directory called dataroot. Information about files (metadata such as the name, location, last modification, license, and size) is stored in the database, referencing the respective files.

Important note

Moodle manages its files internally, and it is important to stress that interfering with any files in moodledata will break the application.

Even copying a file from one folder to another or adding a file manually will break the consistency of your system, which means that further behavior cannot be predicted. Internally, Moodle uses a mechanism called SHA1 hashing. Moodle fully supports Unicode filenames and avoids redundant storage when the same file is used twice (even by different users). Again, you must not modify any Moodle files at the system level!

Now, let’s have a closer look at how the Moodle files area – the directory structure – is organized.

Code and data locations

Though Moodle takes care of organizing its code and data, it is usually good to know where a file is located in your learning system, for example, when installing add-ons or manually applying patches.

System files – files required to run Moodle – are located in several directories under dirroot (the root directory of your Moodle installation). The following table shows the folder name, a brief description, and the chapter in which the topic is covered in this book:

Figure 2.4 – Code and data locations

Figure 2.4 – Code and data locations

The moodledata directory (dataroot) is organized as follows:

Figure 2.5 – moodledata directories

Figure 2.5 – moodledata directories

If problems occur before carrying out an update, it is sometimes necessary to delete caching data and any temporary information Moodle has created. This data is located in the respective directories in the structure shown in the preceding table. In other words, once everybody has logged out, you can safely delete any files in the directories named cache, filter, localcache, lock, models, muc, sessions, temp, and trashdir. Purging can either be done manually or, better, via Site administration | Development | Purge caches | Purge all caches in the Moodle interface.

This concludes this section on the Moodle architecture, which dealt with the LAMP framework and Moodle’s main components before we drilled down to Moodle Core and the location of code and data files.

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Key benefits

  • Learn how to plan, install, customize, and optimize Moodle and Moodle Workplace
  • Deliver a cutting-edge learning experience in a secure and customizable environment while optimizing the Moodle environment
  • Discover solutions to common problems while administering Moodle using a wide range of real-world examples

Description

This updated fourth edition of the classic Moodle Administration guide has been written from the ground up and covers all the new Moodle features in great breadth and depth. The topics have also been augmented with professional diagrams, illustrations, and checklists. The book starts by covering basic tasks such as how to set up and configure Moodle and perform day-to-day administration activities. You’ll then progress to more advanced topics that show you how to customize and extend Moodle, manage authentication and enrolments, and work with roles and capabilities. Next, you'll learn how to configure pedagogical and technical Moodle plugins and ensure your LMS complies with data protection regulations. Then, you will learn how to tighten Moodle’s security, improve its performance, and configure backup and restore procedures. Finally, you'll gain insights on how to compile custom reports, configure learning analytics, enable mobile learning, integrate Moodle via web services, and support different types of multi-tenancy. By the end of this book, you’ll be able to set up an efficient, fully fledged, and secure Moodle system.

Who is this book for?

If you’re new to Moodle or an experienced administrator, this book is for you. It’s also ideal for anyone who has to administer a Moodle system. Whether you’re dealing with a small-scale local Moodle site or a large-scale multi-site learning management system, this book will assist you with any administrative task you may encounter on your journey. Basic Moodle or Moodle Workplace knowledge will be helpful, but not essential.

What you will learn

  • Get expert techniques to handle courses, categories, and enrolments in Moodle
  • Manage users, cohorts, roles, and authentication in a professional manner
  • Configure and manage core and third-party plugins and integrations like a pro
  • Explore different levels of technical and educational configuration
  • Enhance Moodle’s look and feel to create engaging user experiences and ensure compliance with your corporate branding
  • Gain insights by creating powerful custom reports and learning analytics
  • Ensure your Moodle or Moodle Workplace complies with the latest GDPR regulations
  • Support different learning settings, including home-office based learning, mobile learning, and multi-tenancy
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Publication date : Oct 31, 2022
Length: 640 pages
Edition : 4th
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781801816724
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Table of Contents

22 Chapters
Chapter 1: Installing Moodle Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Exploring the Moodle System Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Exploring Courses, Users, and Roles Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Managing Courses and Enrolments Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Managing Users, Cohorts, and Authentication Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Managing Permissions, Roles, and Capabilities Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: Enhancing Moodle’s Look and Feel Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: Understanding Moodle Plugins Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 9: Configuring Educational Features Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 10: Configuring Technical Features Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 11: Enabling Mobile Learning Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 12: Gaining Insights through Moodle Reporting and Analytics Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 13: Ensuring Moodle Security Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 14: Complying with Data Protection Regulations Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 15: Optimizing Moodle Performance Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 16: Avoiding Sleepless Nights – Moodle Backup and Restore Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 17: Working with Moodle Admin Tools Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 18: Integrating External Systems Using Moodle Web Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 19: Setting Up Moodle Networking Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 20: Supporting Multi-Tenancy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
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Olexandr Sep 27, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
is the perfect choice for those who want to learn about Moodle's features.
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David from Rochester Dec 01, 2022
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Overall, the book is a great resource for a new Moodle administrator! If you're starting out, this is a must-have. Combine it with the updated Moodle documentation (online) and the Moodle YouTube channel, and you'll be a pro in no time.A small heads up that Moodle recommends PostgreSQL over MySQL/MariaDB, and PHP 7.3/7.4 have been deprecated. Better to target PHP 8.0 for Moodle 4.0 and later releases of Moodle 4.1 will support PHP 8.1.
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