Sun Microsystems SA has supplied the technology that enables Cape Technikon to deliver innovative learning solutions to its students through a portal system. In addition, Sun technology is being used to support a student mail solution and to improve the running of the institution with an upgrade to its existing administrative systems.
Supplied by Sun reseller BreakPoint Solutions, Cape Technikon has taken delivery of six SunFire V480 servers and a StorEdge 3510 Fibre Channel storage array.
The portal system provides secure, online personal access for each student, significantly improving administrative processes. Using the portal, students can review exam results, access an Internet billing application, print vouchers for various uses, and access relevant Technikon news and information.
Students also benefit from an e-learning environment that allows them to do online tests and exams. They can collaborate with other students for improved knowledge sharing and transfer.
The system also supports the institution's Novell Internet mail server, and its administrative system.
According to Nirvani Dhevcharran, Director of Information Systems & Technologies at Cape Technikon, reliability and support played a key role in its selection of Sun technology. "We have other Sun platforms which have been extremely reliable and robust. The support by Breakpoint Solutions and Sun has always been commendable and we were satisfied that we could expect the same - if not better - with the purchase of the new systems."
Dhevcharran adds that the purchase was necessitated by an upgrade project that the organisation is conducting on its administrative system. "It was also important that the solution met our practical requirements while being cost-effective," she adds.
"Sun continues to deliver business value to South African government, private and educational institutions, and is rapidly establishing itself as the vendor of choice to enable portal solutions," says Andre Muzerie, Sun Microsystems' regional manager for the coast. He notes that the vendor has provided technology that has successfully enabled several complex portal solutions, including an implementation for the Medical Research Council.
"We approach business problems across vertical markets with proven technology while leveraging the experience of partners like BreakPoint Solutions. It comes down to delivering value, which Sun Microsystems consistently and confidently continues to do," he concludes.
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Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision - "The Network Is The Computer" - has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://www.sun.com.
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