Middleware Futures Internet2 Member Meeting Arlington VA, April 2006 RL “Bob” Morgan, University of Washington and Internet2
Jan 17, 2016
Middleware Futures
Internet2 Member Meeting
Arlington VA, April 2006
RL “Bob” Morgan, University of Washington and Internet2
Middleware-To-Be ...Middleware-To-Be ...
"The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery."
- Dickens, A Christmas Carol
TopicsTopics
Next steps in core projects
New core projects
Key related activities
Less key related activities
Conclusion
Directories/SchemaDirectories/Schema
edu*: person, org, course, group
no big plans for new object areas
but: LDAP focus shifting to SAML
so define as abstract data model
schema coordination efforts
SCHAC (in Europe) etc
implies need for large-scale mapping
data model, ontologies may help
ShibbolethShibboleth
Focus on standards compliance (SAML 2.0)
and interop with other products
Complete package, extensible platform
login/logout, more supported flows
Attribute release management, GridShib
Contributions from Australia, UK, Grid
managing project growth ...
Further out: Web Services, multi-tier
Signet / GrouperSignet / Grouper
1.0 versions out (or about to be)
adoptions still "early", seeking serious
feedback
Integration
Signet with Grouper, both with LDAP/Shib
Integration into many apps
Integration into Virtual Organization service
Provisioning: NexusProvisioning: Nexus
Managing user accounts in many systems
from central service, driven from
person/group/priv registries
Nexus open-source project
from University of Memphis
uses OASIS SPML standard protocol
soliciting early adopters now
WorkflowWorkflow
Not just for admin/approval any more
many academic, e-science use cases
organization of data/processing across
disparate systems with complex flows
WS-BPEL is new OASIS standard,
many implementations, use in Grids
considering: federated flows, use of workflow
in IdM infra, signatures, etc
Messaging/event servicesMessaging/event services
"Message-oriented middleware"
key technology for low-latency, loosely-
coupled integration of many services,
especially IdM services
many products, not so much adoption
new open technologies, e.g. XMPP
identify architecture, benefits, seek best
practices, promote deployments ...
Trust ServicesTrust Services
InCommon Federation
promote scalable adoption of Shib/SAML,
bring together US HE community and
partners, 30 or so members now
USHER CA
PKI root CA for US HE community
now running, first certs this week
shares procedures with InCommon
Virtual Organization SupportVirtual Organization Support
Key constituency for middleware benefits
campus-oriented VO services, reducing
admin costs, adding compliance, serving
myriad academic/e-science VOs, supporting
federated access/admin, collab tool
integration ...
primary interest of funding agencies ...
(Inter)Federation(Inter)Federation
Growth of Federations requires inter-
federation to scale up
but what is interfederation? Don't know yet
key services already facing multiple feds
US campuses will join US Gov E-Auth
Federation via interfed with InCommon
Requires collab with existing R&HE feds in
Europe, Australia
More related topicsMore related topics
Lionshare project
Secure peer-to-peer resource sharing
Driver for advanced Shib/USHER features
Mellon Foundation-funded
Medical middleware
apply HE models to med centers, with mods
much interest from AAMC etc
Yet more related topicsYet more related topics
Connective/real-time middleware
identity in telephony/conferencing/presence
applications/services
improve security, directory integration,
support federation
Digital Rights Management
not all bad: applications in privacy, libraries
help RIAA/MPAA solve their/our problems?
Even more related topicsEven more related topics
Learning-management systems / Sakai
large open-source effort, much adoption
key middleware integration issues
provisioning, federation, multi-tier, workflow
Internet Identity
many new lightweight identity schemes
Microsoft InfoCard
how can we integrate?
Process issuesProcess issues
Middleware now a global activity
regionalizing/internationalizing processes and
standards, avoiding political traps
Support models
many projects/activities/services need to
become independent, yet stay connected
decide how to pick battles when there are so
many to choose from
ConclusionConclusion
"I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."
- Dickens, A Christmas Carol
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