Technical Details

Technolutions provides all hosting, network, and server management for Slate in secure, telecommunications-grade modern datacenters:

  • Class A commercial space with raised floors
  • Dedicated environmental control systems
  • Uninterruptible power with emergency generator backups
  • Redundant links to major Internet backbones
  • Secured facility and machine room access
  • Network border security and firewalls
  • Off-site nightly backups, with failover capability
  • 24x7 facility, network, and machine monitoring


End-to-End Encryption
Sensitive data is always received and transmitted over SSL, using 2048-bit keys, and stored in encrypted databases in secure datacenters. Slate integrates with institutional single sign-on, including CAS, LDAP, Shibboleth, SAML/ADFS, Active Directory, and other identity providers, with permission- and role-based authorization tables.


High Performance, High Availability
We have redundancy from the disks to the servers to the network. If ever Slate should become unavailable for any reason, we immediately begin a 30-second failover process. We regularly add servers and computational capacity to bring you real-time data with ever-increasing performance.


Secure, Isolated Databases
Institution data is stored in its own private database and is never shared with other institutions or third parties. You can download, at regularly scheduled intervals, a complete backup copy of your database for secure on-campus storage. Source code and technology escrow agreements are included at no additional charge for added peace of mind.


Integrated Service
We've integrated our service resources right into Slate, including Slate TV training videos and request ticket tracking. Call or e-mail your dedicated program manager or our service desk anytime for no additional charge.


Smart Maintenance Windows
We are able to issue most updates to our servers without any service interruption. We understand that certain changes to the system can be disruptive at certain times during the year, and we hold back non-essential releases during your operationally-important dates.


Backbone Connectivity
We're on the Savvis and Level 3 backbones, with access to 1gbps of burstable bandwidth. Ping times to many colleges and universities are under 5ms, and typical transfer rates to these institutions exceed 50mbps.

Resource Limitations

  • Users: No limit
  • Applications: No limit
  • Prospects/inquiries: No limit
  • Database size: No limit
  • Media storage: No limit
  • E-mail delivery: No limit

Import Capabilities

  • PDF
  • Secured PDF
  • Tagged PDF (splice on bookmarks)
  • Multi-page TIFF
  • Image files (BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and other mainstream formats)
  • Media files (any mainstream audio or video file format)

Export Capabilities

  • PDF (batched)
  • PDF (multiple files inside a ZIP archive)
  • Excel 2007/2010 and Excel 97-2003
  • Word mail-merge
  • Tab-separated text, comma-separated text, and fixed-width text
  • E-mail merge
  • iCalendar (iCal, Outlook)
  • Batch utilities for mass-managing decisions, activities, interactions, bins, and readers

Printing

  • Supports all local and network printers
  • Intelligent duplexing ensures that a new document never starts on the reverse of another
  • Paper tray assignment for specific material types enables separator sheet support

Scanning

  • Supports all TWAIN 1.x and 2.x drivers
  • Local scanners
  • Network scanners
  • Duplex and large-format scanning
  • Blank page detection
  • Separator sheet detection and automatic splicing
  • Direct control of paper size, resolution, feeder, duplexing, and bit level

Device Integration

  • Barcode scanners are available for one-click file management via the barcodes printed on application documents.
  • The Apple iPad features a customized version of Slate that supports multi-touch, gestures, and a stylized interface.

E-mail Communications

  • Easy-to-use HTML editor, with direct HTML editing support
  • Supports attachments
  • Supports HTML-based templates
  • Bounceback tracking displays the success or failure of each message's delivery
  • Link tracking helps you keep tabs on how effective your messages are

Compliance Ready

  • Accessibility-aware designs
  • USPS-verified mailing addresses
  • E-mail unsubscribes are automated
  • Feedback loop registration
  • FERPA/Buckley Amendment

Portfolio Uploads

  • Documents: Word, PDF, RTF
  • Images: BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF
  • Video: AVI, FLV, MP4, Quicktime, WMV
  • No per-gigabyte charge for hosting
  • During the first week of 2011, Slate converted and processed 20,000 media files, 1 million document pages, 1.5 million e-mail messages, and 50 million resource requests