Browser Installation and System Check Frequently Asked Questions

Schools will need to make sure information is not blocked in their web filters and that data are not cached.

Please ensure the following ports and IP addresses are open for TDS systems:

HSA Testing Site
https://hsa.tds.airast.org
IP Address: 67.192.175.174
Port: 443/tcp (SSL)

HSA Training Test/Test Administrator Training Site
https://hsapt.tds.airast.org
IP Address: 174.143.51.33
Port: 443/tcp (SSL)

AIR cannot determine specific firewall or content-filter issues for your school. Contact your school’s technology coordinator for information about your school’s configuration.

The secure browser for 2009–10 is supported on the following operating systems:

1. Windows (2000, XP, Vista, 7)
2. Mac OS X (OS 10.3 and higher)
3. Linux K12LTSP 6.0

Yes. HIDOE requires that all students use the secure browser for HSA Online testing.  

No. HSA Online cannot be accessed without the use of a secure browser for any reason.

No. The secure browser is a separate application from normal browsers installed on your computer.

No. Due to the secure nature of the browser, no modifications or preferences (including disabling the pop-up blocker) need to be made by the user.

The HSA Online portal site contains detailed instructions for browser installation on individual machines, as well as best practices for browser installation on a network.

The secure browsers for use during the Spring 2010 HSA Online field test should be installed and tested well in advance to verify successful installation and identify potential issues with network configuration or security settings.

After running the installation on individual computers, open the secure browser. The browser should fill the entire screen and automatically open to the Student Login screen.

The Test Delivery System contains a diagnostic tool that enables users to view details about a computer’s operating system, Internet connection, and browser version. The diagnostic tool can be accessed from the student login screen by pressing CTRL + D.

Mac OS X users will see this message due to Parental Controls set on the computer. Refer to the following information depending on the version of your operating system.

Mac 10.4 users:

1. Go to the Parental Control configuration panel.
2. Add HSA Secure Browser to the safe list
3. Make sure that the option “Allow supporting programs” is checked.

Mac 10.5 users:

Please contact the Help Desk for assistance using the secure browser with Parental Controls enabled.

You may see a white screen when you open the secure browser because the computer has not finished loading all of the required applications. Before opening the secure browser after logging on to a computer, please allow the computer time enough time to start the necessary resources. If this problem persists, please contact the Help Desk.

If you are able to see the dock while you are using the Mac OS X secure browser, this is probably because it is the first time the application has been launched. By default, the dock is visible the first time the browser is launched, but will not display on subsequent launches. Although the dock is visible, external applications cannot be accessed and the Exposé information is removed.

As part of the installation process, the Mac OS X browser should be opened once prior to student use for assessment.

This message is displayed when your computer has a communication error. From the error page, select “Click Here to Try Again” to try the connection again.

If the connection fails to connect, verify the following and try again:

• Ensure your network cable is plugged in:
  Open a traditional browser (non-secure, Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox) and try connecting to a Web site on the Internet. If the site successfully loads, move to the next step.
• Ensure your network firewall is open to the TDS address.
  Please refer to your school’s Technology Coordinator for help with firewall issues.

Installing the secure browser on individual computers via a network can be done in two ways:

1. Copying the secure browser files from the network to individual computers
2. Using third-party programs to run the installers on multiple client machines over a network (e.g., Apple Remote Desktop)

The network method for installing over network is very specific to the network on which the browser is being installed and the software used for the installation. While AIR can try to provide support on the network setup process, its ability to support certain networks and third-party software is limited.

In order for the secure browser to be accessible from a network drive, the extracted secure browser files must exist on the shared network. For some operating systems (primarily Windows and Mac OS X), the secure browser must first be installed on a local computer. The secure browser files are then copied to the shared network drive where they can be accessed by users on the network. Refer to the following for guidance on the specific operating systems.  

Windows
After installation on a local computer, copy the HSASecureBrowser folder to a location on the shared drive. The folder has all the components needed for running the browsers.

Linux
Extract the .tar file to the shared drive. The secure browser can be run from that location.

Mac OS X
After installation, drag the secure browser application to the shared drive instead of the Applications folder.  It can then be run from the shared location.

Yes. Because the secure browser uses drag-and-drop installation, you can use the File Copy feature for installation on the client computer.