Support: Instructor FAQ's

Can the programs run off of CD-ROM?

SimBio Virtual Labs can be run off of CD-ROM. EcoBeaker 2.5 and OsmoBeaker will not run off of CD-ROM and must be installed to the computer.

When does the software expire?

The expiration date for our software is September 15th. The current version will expire 9/15/2010; the newest version which will be released in the fall will have an expiration date of 9/15/2011.

Can I install the software on my own personal machine? I feel if I can play with the software, I would be in a better position to help my students if they have any questions on it.

Yes, that is possible. After you purchase the SimBio Virtual Lab(s), please email wssupport@simbio.com. Your purchase cost will be refunded to you.

Which Windows operating systems are supported?

EcoBeaker, EvoBeaker, OsmoBeaker, Mitosis & Meiosis, and NerveWorks will run on Windows XP (SP2+), Windows Vista, and Vista SP1.

Which Macintosh operating systems are supported?

EcoBeaker, EvoBeaker, OsmoBeaker, Mitosis & Meiosis, and Nerveworks will run on OSX 10.4.x Tiger and OSX 10.5.x Leopard. These programs will not run under OS9.x or the Classic environment. These programs are also universal binaries, which mean they will run on a PPC based machine, or on a newer Intel-based mac.

Which Linux distributions are supported to run the programs?

Linux is not a supported operating system at this time. However through the use of a 3rd party virtualization program such as VMWare, the suite of programs can be run under Windows virtually from within a Linux operating system.

Do I need additional programs in order to run SimBio Virtual labs?

In some cases yes. Some virtual labs will require Quicktime (available from Apple) to run. In others, a java virtual machine will be required which can be downloaded for free from Sun Microsystems. A list of additional programs if any are needed will be included in a system requirements document which will be available with the virtual lab.

How do I find out about product updates for your products that my students are using?

Please visit our Bugs and Updates page to view status updates on all of our products.