Answers to the most common configuration, hardware, and operational questions about the EdCon school portal.
1. Server & System Requirements
What are the minimum hardware specifications for the local server?
For a typical school with up to 1,000 active students, the minimum server requirements are:
Operating System: Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS or newer (Windows Server and macOS are also supported).
Processor: Quad-core Intel Core i5 or AMD equivalent.
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (8GB recommended for larger cohorts).
Storage: 120GB SSD (SSD is critical for database query speeds).
Runtime: Node.js v16.x or newer and MongoDB Community Edition.
How does EdCon handle media and file uploads?
File uploads (such as homework submissions or attachments) are saved locally on the school server. When internet is active, files are synced to a secure Cloudinary CDN bucket. This provides automatic off-site backups and protects local storage from overflow.
2. Network & Router Configuration
Does EdCon need a live internet connection to run?
No. EdCon's core functions (attendance, assignments, grades, student messaging) operate entirely within the school's local area network (LAN). Devices only need to be connected to the school's local Wi-Fi router to access the server.
How do students and teachers access the portal?
Access is configured by setting up the local router. The server is assigned a static IP (e.g. 192.168.1.100). Users connect to the school Wi-Fi and open the address (e.g. http://192.168.1.100:3000 or a custom local DNS address like http://edcon.portal) in their browsers.
3. Common Troubleshooting Steps
"Unable to connect to school server" error
If you see a browser error stating that the server cannot be reached, follow these steps:
Verify that your device is connected to the school's official Wi-Fi network.
Confirm that the server machine is powered on and running the EdCon application service.
Check if the router or static IP of the server has changed by pinging the IP from a command prompt.
"Sync Pending" count does not decrease
If the client dashboard shows pending sync tasks that are not clearing:
Check the green online status indicator at the bottom of the student/teacher dashboard. If it shows "Offline mode active", check if the server has active external internet connectivity.
Ensure that the server is not blocked from reaching the external Cloudinary and sync routes by checking firewall/security rules.