HeaNet Services for libraries: LIR Group Seminar - 20/11/2014

The LIR / HeaNet seminar - Services for libraries, was a great overview of the services that might be relevant to libraries, in context. The program, including links to the presentations are below.

9:45-10:00	HEAnet Introduction	Brian Boyle
10:00-10:15	Contracts Management / Procurement	Garvan McFeeley
10:15-10:25	Edugate	Glenn Wearen
10:25-10:30	Edustorage	Orla McGann
10:30-10:40	Security scanning/auditing & Certificates	Glenn Wearen
10:50-10:55	IdP-hosting	Glenn Wearen
10:55-11:05	Datacenter hosting	Orla McGann
11:05-11:20	Web-hosting & Moodle hosting	Robert Gallagher
11:20-11:40	Multimedia	Justin Hourigan
11:40-11:50	Ciera (cloud platform)	Robert Hackett
11:50-12:05	eduroam	Louis Twomey
12:05-12:15	Listserv, DNS registration	Brian Boyle
12:15-12:30	Service Development Process / Proposals	Brian Boyle
12:30	Q&A / Close

Video/Web conference Recording of this workshop

Highlights

• Reminder to join the HEA Net lists -  not just the library related ones. 
• Reminder that the change to IPv6 will necessitate a change in how users are authenticated to subscription resources, and that EDU Gate can help fill the gap. 
• The option to enable shibboleth by default was outlined, but that the library as customer must request set up with the publisher. 
• Validation can be against several databases of users.
• IP recognition remains the default long in mechanism on campus. 
• HEA Net will request IREL resources be shibboleth enabled for the libraries. 
• EDU Storage, is a self-service / self managed portal, with single identity log on, which can be configured locally. 
• Hosted Moodle services use this as their storage
• Miscellaneous security services are offered, such as: Computer Emergency Response Team, Vulnerability Scanning, Security Auditing, Advice if going out to tender, SPAM management, SSL certification, eScience - grid computing certificates. 
• Hosting is available via the datacentres, monitored. with UPS, cooling and KVM services. 
• This can include LAN extensions over layer 2, p2p circuits, with local IP run over it. 
• Web hosting: low cost hosting for low traffic sites is available. Costings scale to the amount of sotrage and databases needed, but start from <€100.
• Low traffic = 20-30 hits per minute (PLESK admin)
• High traffic = 200-300 hits per minute
• May require upgrading to enterprise web hosting at this level. 
• Multimedia services include video streaming and conferencing (National Gate Keeper). and file sender. 
• V-Scene (via JANET), dials out to those scheduled to attend video conferencing. 
• Quality assurance checks are required once you register your unit. 
• Vidyo: desktop video conference.
• This is the back end used to deliver Google Hangouts. 
• Each institution gets it's own portal once they sign up to use the service. 
• It can be accessed via client download.
• Invites can be issued via e-mail and guest access granted. 
• Mobile device compatible. 
• Can take part from users desk. 
• Video streaming is supported via the web host media.heanet.ie, with no limit on the number of files, or their size. The system will convert video and provide an embed code. 
• This service is not publicly indexed. 
• Access can be restricted. (ie EduGate authentication)
• Mobile friendly service. 
• This service can be used to create podcasts. 
• Content can be added to iTunes U over SSL encryption and followed by subscription. 
• Live streaming is supported. Events can be created and then embedded in a website. 
• The Oireachtas live service is streamed  this way 
• Other options are student radio stations and live conferring ceremonies. 
• Ciera = result of the Cloud services Strategy. Pay by use instead of having to invest in physical architecture. Cloud is seen as a central future direction. 
• HEA Net will broker > Multicloud portal built on dell cloud manager
• Community cloud, private cloud, public cloud (Amazon, Azure etc.) 
• HEA net can broker. 
• Ciera is built on an (Dell Cloud Manager) IaaS network. (Proof of Concept stage to establish need (ie Virtual Private Cloud, etc.)
• Two aspects to this
• Multicloud 
• IaaS Community cloud. 
• There is only one interface to the Ciera cloud
• Public/VM Ware/Private.
• Locally cocontrolledccess permissions. 
• Local standard image for a pc can be created and deployed from the cloud
• Virtual machine on demand - if you will. 
• No extra cost for storage, IP addresses and network connectivity, which are additional charges on the public cloud. 
• File sender can be used to share very large files, up to 100 GB. Federated access is a given, but guest access can be arranged via e-mail invite (voucher system). 
• You set the expiry date by which the files should be downloaded. 
• Your browser must support html 5 to avail of this service. 
• Listserv / Mailing list:
• Mailing lists can be moderated, public, private, and have rss feeds (public lists)
• Listserv platform still has no better alternative as it still has a rich feature set.
• There is an API for automatic management 
• A list should have 2 owners, be relevant to higher education and be work relevant. 
• Owners are not subscribers/ 
• Eduroam: community wide WiFi access, anywhere in the world that is part of the network, leverages federated access, via a globally unique ID. 
• Users can be held accountable for their usage as they are identifiable.
• An SSL channel is used to validate against the local user database. 
• To be part of the network a site has to conform to a minimum standard for WiFi and encryption strength.
• Users devices need to be configured to Eduroam before roaming.
• A Mobile access configuation tool for EduRoam is available at cat.eduroam.org. 
• Includes self-install
• A device should only have to be configured once. 
• Eduroam.org lists locations where the service is available. 
• Service providers' local WiFi most be compatible with the EduRoam network, have a Radius Server and an EduRoam information page that contain information about possible blocks etc. (ie no gmail ). 
• EduRoam depends on the local exisiting WiFi infrastructure/s. 
• DNS registration service. 
• c€20 per annum
• Set it up at the start of your project, remembering that DNS are on a first come first served basis. 
• HEA Net Hosting includes DNS Registry. 
• Service Change Management
• The information services department can help format proposals
• It can take 1 month to write a proposal, and a further month to complete submission. 
• Subsequent to moving to the procurement phase, help can be received when preparing and evaluating tenders. 
• There is a services steering group 
• A new role has been introduced > Client collaboration and delivery manager. 
• Dedicated to requirements gathering. 
• An Chéím, will become part of a subsidary company > EduCampus.