{"id":8528,"date":"2025-02-08T00:26:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T23:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clover-vtl.com\/doc\/?post_type=manual_documentation&#038;p=8528"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:06:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T13:06:09","slug":"clover-reference-architecture","status":"publish","type":"manual_documentation","link":"https:\/\/clover-vtl.com\/doc\/documentation\/concepts\/clover-reference-architecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Clover Reference Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"toctoc\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-introduction\"><strong>1. Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clover is a cloud-based platform designed for managing virtual labs in an educational environment. It provides seamless integration with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Microsoft 365, allowing instructors and students to interact with virtual machines configured for specific courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This document provides an in-depth look at the reference architecture of Clover, detailing its components, integration points, deployment models, scalability features, and security architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-system-architecture\"><strong>2. System Architecture<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clover consists of several core components that work together to provide a seamless virtual lab experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-1-core-components\"><strong>2.1 Core Components<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>User Interface (UI):<\/strong> A web-based portal for administrators, instructors, and learners to manage and access virtual labs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Application Layer:<\/strong> Handles user authentication, role management, and permissions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Virtual Machine Orchestration:<\/strong> Manages the creation, deployment, and lifecycle of virtual machines (VMs) for courses and labs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage and Database:<\/strong> Stores user data, virtual lab configurations, and system logs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integration Services:<\/strong> Enables connectivity with LMS platforms, Microsoft 365, and external APIs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security and Compliance Module:<\/strong> Ensures access control, data encryption, and policy enforcement.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-2-data-flow\"><strong>2.2 Data Flow<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>User Authentication:<\/strong> Uses Azure Active Directory for Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lab Creation Workflow:<\/strong> An administrator configures a virtual lab template, which is then provisioned as an Azure Virtual Machine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Data Storage and Retrieval:<\/strong> User data, configurations, and activity logs are stored in an Azure SQL Database and Blob Storage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monitoring and Logging:<\/strong> Azure Monitor and Log Analytics track performance and security incidents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-integration-points\"><strong>3. Integration Points<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-1-lms-integration\"><strong>3.1 LMS Integration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clover connects with various Learning Management Systems via REST APIs and Single Sign-On (SSO). This enables seamless access to virtual labs from LMS dashboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Supported LMS Platforms:<\/strong> Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, and Microsoft Teams.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integration Method:<\/strong> OAuth 2.0 authentication and API-based resource provisioning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>User Synchronization:<\/strong> Syncs student and instructor accounts between the LMS and Clover.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-2-microsoft-365-integration\"><strong>3.2 Microsoft 365 Integration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Azure Active Directory (AAD):<\/strong> Provides role-based access control (RBAC) for authentication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>OneDrive &amp; SharePoint:<\/strong> Facilitates file sharing and collaboration within virtual labs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Microsoft Teams:<\/strong> Enables communication and collaboration among lab participants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-deployment-models\"><strong>4. Deployment Models<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-1-cloud-based-deployment\"><strong>4.1 Cloud-Based Deployment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clover is primarily hosted on Microsoft Azure, leveraging Azure Virtual Machines, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Blob Storage for a scalable and secure experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-2-hybrid-deployment\"><strong>4.2 Hybrid Deployment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For institutions with on-premises infrastructure, Clover supports hybrid deployment, where core services run on Azure while connecting to on-premises Active Directory and storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-3-on-premises-deployment\"><strong>4.3 On-Premises Deployment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In certain cases, organizations can deploy Clover on local servers using Hyper-V or VMware, with connectivity to Azure for licensing and security updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-scalability-and-performance\"><strong>5. Scalability and Performance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-1-auto-scaling-features\"><strong>5.1 Auto-Scaling Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clover leverages Azure\u2019s auto-scaling capabilities to manage workloads dynamically. Virtual Machines are provisioned on-demand and decommissioned when no longer needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>VM Scaling Policies:<\/strong> Based on scheduled lab sessions and real-time demand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Load Balancing:<\/strong> Managed through Azure Traffic Manager to optimize user experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Resource Optimization:<\/strong> Unused labs are automatically deallocated to reduce costs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-2-performance-optimization\"><strong>5.2 Performance Optimization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Azure CDN:<\/strong> Speeds up content delivery for remote users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Data Caching:<\/strong> Implements Redis Cache for frequent database queries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High-Availability Architecture:<\/strong> Uses redundant instances and failover mechanisms to ensure uptime.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-security-architecture\"><strong>6. Security Architecture<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-1-authentication-and-authorization\"><strong>6.1 Authentication and Authorization<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Azure Active Directory Integration:<\/strong> Enforces multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>OAuth 2.0 and SAML:<\/strong> Used for third-party authentication with LMS and enterprise systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-2-data-protection\"><strong>6.2 Data Protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Encryption:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Data in transit is secured via TLS 1.2+ encryption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data at rest is encrypted using Azure Storage Service Encryption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Backup and Recovery:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Automated daily backups of virtual machines and database records.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Point-in-time recovery for database protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-3-compliance-and-governance\"><strong>6.3 Compliance and Governance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Clover adheres to global compliance standards:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>GDPR<\/strong> \u2013 Data privacy protection for European users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FERPA<\/strong> \u2013 Compliance for educational institutions handling student data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ISO 27001<\/strong> \u2013 Information security management certification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SOC 2 Type II<\/strong> \u2013 Security and availability certification.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-conclusion\"><strong>7. Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Clover\u2019s reference architecture is built for scalability, security, and seamless integration with educational platforms. Whether deployed in the cloud or on-premises, it ensures an optimized virtual lab experience while maintaining compliance and security best practices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":8116,"menu_order":1,"template":"","manualdocumentationcategory":[32],"manual_doc_tag":[],"class_list":["post-8528","manual_documentation","type-manual_documentation","status-publish","hentry","manualdocumentationcategory-clover-documentation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Clover VTL Architecture: A Comprehensive Guide - Clover Documentation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore Clover VTL architecture for managing virtual labs in education. 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