Core Data Trial in North West Institute of Further & Higher Education 27 May 2003 Greg McClure

1. Core Data Trial inNorth West Institute of Further & Higher Education 27 May 2003 Greg McClure Maureen McKee Davey O’Hare

2. Technical preparation Business logistics Outcomes and lessons Preparation for trials at the other institutions Outline of Presentation

3. Sunblade 150 workstation – Sun OS 5.8 uPortal v2.1.2 installed Jakarta Tomcat v4.0.6 installed MySQL database v4.0.12 installed Custom SecurityContext developed Custom ‘core data’ channel developed Java code, XSLT stylesheets Portal Server

4. Architecture Overview

5. NIIMLE (web) server (Mandrake Linux) PHP and LDAP support in Apache Data Warehouse (MySQL) PHP agent authentication against Active Directory via LDAP data extraction from warehouse via PHP NWIFHE Agent Architecture

6. Warehouse Agent(PHP) MIS Data Portal NIIMLE Server Oracle FEMIS Directory Local Remote Active Directory NWIFHE Agent Architecture MySQL

7. Required ports: 80(HTTP), 443(SHTTP) 8080(Tomcat), 8443(Secure Tomcat) 22(SSH) Access restricted to specified IP(s) NAT in use at NWIFHE Everyone or no-one can access Portal Firewall Configuration

8. Required ports: 80(HTTP), 443(SHTTP) 22(SSH) Access restricted to: Portal server One development PC (SSH) NWIFHE Firewall Configuration

9. Custom authentication class POST student ID/password to remote agent Parse XML returned by agent Populate iPerson object Set ‘authenticated’ flag Exceptions result in failed authentication The NIIMLESecurityContext

10. Display student core data Generate XML from iPerson object Pass XML to XSLT appropriate stylesheet Stylesheets for Netscape and IE The Core Data Channel

11. Cron job export from FEMIS Cron job import to MySQL Link MIS database to Active Directory Entry of login ID to MySQL from paper lists Error Prone ! Class lists more accurate from academic than from MIS database Data Preparation

12. Welcome page produced for the portal NIIMLE web site and tips for the day added Document produced on how to use the portal DPA form requesting students’ permission Business LogisticsPreparing for the Day

13. 27 students took part – 2 sessions held Students welcomed and given introduction to NIIMLE project. Also given voucher Students asked to complete DPA form which was in two sections: informing students of data held requested their agreement to take part in trial after completing trial, asked if information held was correct The Event

14. Business LogisticsThe Day • Only 3 students had problems logging on • 1 could not remember password • 2 due to error inputting details in data warehouse • errors now corrected

15. NIIMLE web site and tips for the day were added to tabs across top of portal welcome Welcome Page of Portal Log in with your normal username and password you use forNorth West Institute system

16. Core Data for Student

17. Students asked to check that the following is correct Your reference number, for North West Institute, also your name should be displayed Check that this is the correct course reference and title you are enrolled on The year of your course Semester or period code For reference purposes only ‘S’ should be displayed, as you are a current student

18. User Preferences

19. All students signed DPA form and agreed that their data was correct (exception of 2 students – see above). Students could change the colour scheme/skin displaying their information. One choice was “The Matrix” movie scheme. Although it was a popular choice, text did not display clearly on the screen, as the scheme was too dark. Only other comment referred to guessing game provided as a fun element – not connected to core data. DPA form Results

20. Data warehouse built on QUB warehouse server PHP and LDAP support built on QUB server PHP agent built for authentication and data extraction Testing – currently Data trials – with placement students - done over the summer QUB Agent Architecture

21. Warehouse Agent(PHP) MIS Data Portal QUB Development Server INGRES SIS Directory Local Remote NDS QUB Agent Architecture SQL Server

22. ASP agent built for authentication and data extraction Querying the MIS database directly – scalability could be an issue Authentication against Active Directory Secure access provided Testing – ongoing Data trials – September ‘03 NDAI Agent Architecture

23. Agent(ASP) NDAI Web Server NDAI Agent Architecture MIS Data Portal Oracle FEMIS Directory Local Remote Active Directory

24. Data warehouse built on UU warehouse server PHP and LDAP support built on the UU server PHP agent built for authentication - NDS Stored procedure instead of direct query Extracting XML from Oracle CLOB – under development Testing ongoing Data trials – September ‘03 UU Agent Architecture

25. Warehouse Agent(PHP) MIS Data Portal UU Web Server Oracle Directory Local Remote NDS UU Agent Architecture Oracle

26. NIIMLE server configured & built – still to be installed on BIFHE network PHP and LDAP support built on NIIMLE server PHP agent built for authentication installed on NIIMLE sever – authenticating against NDS Data warehouse to be built on NIIMLE server Agent to be tested for both authentication and data extraction Data trials – September ‘03 BIFHE Agent Architecture

27. Agent(PHP) NIIMLE Server BIFHE Agent Architecture MIS Data Portal Oracle FEMIS Directory Local Remote NDS