JISC

The SERAPIS project aims to investigate the integration of Shibboleth into a number of AHDS services, and in particular to implement a Shibboleth-based access management system for restricted collections in the AHDS digital repository.

Aims and Objectives

The project has three strands:

1. To replace the registration system, which is currently used to access restricted collections in the AHDS repository, with an access management system based on Shibboleth. Initially, this system will be operated as a pilot in parallel with the existing repository, to gain feedback from users and to assess and correct its weaknesses. Ultimately, the aim will be to migrate this pilot to a live production system, although this is likely to occur after the project is complete.
2. To investigate the ways in which the ingest process workflow can be automated and enhanced, with access managed by a Shibboleth-based system. Such a system would simplify the ingest process for both depositors and the AHDS staff who process the deposits, and would contribute to ensuring the long-term integrity of the resources and associated metadata.
3. To examine the use of Shibboleth in a grid computing environment, with particular reference to the AHDS’s ongoing e-science activities.

Project Methodology

The project will be divided into the following phases: 

• Investigate technical and administrative issues.
• Implement Shibboleth-based access management system for repository.
• Test of pilot system and incorporate of feedback
• Use the experience gained in earlier phases to feed into the ingest and grid studies.

Deliverables

The main deliverables will be reports documenting the findings of each of the three strands of the project: 

• A case study on the Shibboleth implementation.
• A report on the potential of a Shibboleth framework for managing the ingest workflow.
• A report on the use of Shibboleth in a grid-computing environment.

All outputs will be made available on the project website.