1. Evolving Architecture at NSIDC
M. J. Brodzik
ESDIS visit to NSIDC , 4/2011

2. Evolving Architecture at NSIDC
From To
Stovepipe applications
Minimal layered architecture
Difficult (impossible) to scale systems up, extend systems for related purposes, or reuse good ideas elsewhere
Enabling “Community-driven” APIs
Internal collaborations to build infrastructure (more flexible, scalable, maintainable, robust)
Multiple projects with similar needs work together for common solution
NSIDC leading the way: “more data to more users”
Engaging useful IT trends (developing collaborative services across archives and data centers)
Modular design allows good ideas from a given project to be more easily reused
NSIDC

3. Evolving Architecture at NSIDC: Past
Stovepipe applications
No common processing environment
Minimal use of external services or components
Minimal data-driven processes
NSIDC

4. Evolving Architecture at NSIDC: Current Production@NSIDC
Common web application environment
OpenSearch services: community-standard web services for discovery and access
Advanced plot & analysis web apps developed (but not available as web services)
Developing some external components & services
Metrics capabilities moving to services, rather than GUI responsibility
NSIDC

5. Evolving Architecture at NSIDC: Future Production@NSIDC
“OS+” = NSIDC-proposed extensions to ESIP Federated Search
Polaris replaces Advanced Search
MDDB obsolete
EDB + Searchlight infrastructure enables file- and collection-level services

6. Evolving Architecture at NSIDC
Shared infrastructure plan enables
Scalability (that was impossible with stovepipes)
Robust core that is reused for multiple projects, so project can focus on the project’s specialty goals
Selective reusability (stovepipes tended to “all or nothing” on maintenance/reuse decisions) allows one project’s good ideas to continue after the life of the project
Maintainability (critical mass of teams working solutions, not just one “expert”)
Accountability of developers to one another, to build higher-quality software
Use of standards (format, metadata interchange, web service protocols) leverages work of large external communities to bring “more data to more users” in meaningful contexts
NSIDC

7. Evolving Architecture at NSIDC
Questions? Discussion
NSIDC