TERENA NORDUnet Networking Conference 1999 Lund Norman Wiseman JISC Head of Programmes JISC Programme for Middleware Development Joint Information Systems Committee

Programme The JISC: a thumbnail sketch Middleware: what it is and why it is important What JISC is doing and an update on current projects Next steps Joint Information Systems Committee

JISC is the Joint Information Systems Committee JISC receives funding from all of the UK higher education funding bodies JISC provides network and other infrastructure services to 1.5 million students and 200,000 staff in UK higher education Advises funding bodies and institutions on innovative uses for information services Joint Information Systems Committee Background

Joint Information Systems Committee StructureBudget (Euro) 32m 12m 5m 3m Network Content, Resources, Services Development Programme Human Issues and Advice

What is Middleware? An infrastructure layer that enables users to take advantage of the opportunities that powerful networks offer “Those things that network people don’t want to do and applications writers can’t” “The GLUE Factory” Joint Information Systems Committee

What is Middleware? Learning Research Business Joint Information Systems Committee Core Layer Security Quality of Service Network Management Network Layer IPv6 Network MIDDLEWARE

Why have Middleware? Drivers –collaboration across the sector –distance learning, residential learning –sharing of information –security and trust Scalability Interoperability Improving Accessibility Joint Information Systems Committee

Middleware for Education Joint Information Systems Committee Special Needs of Higher Education –Mobility –Multiple roles for individuals –Non-monetary economics –Small market niches -remote instruments digital libraries HE is a pre-market

JISC Middleware Activities Joint Information Systems Committee Distributed National Electronic Resource Metadata, Z39.50, searching Interoperability, IMS partner Information Strategies and Information Security Strategies Network management,monitoring, QoS - UKERNA and Technical Advisory Unit - mirrors and caching service

JISC Middleware Activities Joint Information Systems Committee Security Studies, reports, smartcards Access Management Identified need Development Project Pilot Service

Access Management: drivers Growth in use of electronic services Simplify administration / increase efficiency Protection of rights: Suppliers Intermediaries & Customers Development of new markets: Lifelong learning and distance learners Government initiatives - UFI, NGFL Joint Information Systems Committee

Strategy Pragmatic Flexible Quick Short term ATHENS Develop existing product - ATHENS Development work done by NISS, a JISC Service Started April 1997, launched November 1997 Joint Information Systems Committee

ATHENS: An access management service controlling access to distributed resources on a network Single, unique userid and password for all services WWW, Telnet and Other resources Resilient Scaleable Free to HE Recommended for all JISC Services & Projects Joint Information Systems Committee

ATHENS Service Statistics No. of DSP:12 No. of registered resources:75 No. of sites:237 Total administrators:1,300 Total accounts:400,000 Number of daily accesses :40,000 Peak Load : 10/second Joint Information Systems Committee

The Lessons Learned So Far Technology -important, difficult, expensive, must be open, commercial solutions likely People - equally important, probably even more difficult! Simplicity - essential Trust -licensing and copyright, privacy Joint Information Systems Committee

More Lessons Learned Flexibility-link local, national and international systems Awareness -information service providers, users and management Management-resources, culture New Demands -more services more statistics more features Joint Information Systems Committee

UK: Next Steps Joint Information Systems Committee Middleware will be a major JISC activity JISC brings: –funding –experience and testbed –link all layers from network to human issues –relationship with vendors –mobilise skills in UK community Partnerships –Internet2 and UKERNA, Europe?

More Information Joint Information Systems Committee Web: ATHENS and in DLIB