austin internet server bruce marton sr. systems analyst the university of texas at austin

AUSTIN INTERNET SERVER

Bruce Marton

Sr. Systems Analyst

The University of Texas at Austin

OUTLINE

• I. WHY the EDI Server was created

• II. SPEEDE/ExPRESS Overview

• III. WHO can use it

• IV. HOW to Register

• V. Security on the EDI Server

• VI. Update on recent activity

• VII. Future of Internet Server & XML

SPEEDE/ExPRESS

• EDI: Standard for electronic documents• ANSI X12

– TS 130 – Student Academic Record (Transcript)

• SPEEDE/ExPRESS – Implementation Standard– PostSecondary– High School

SPEEDE TRANSCRIPT

ISA! !22!003658! !22!003615! !T\

ST!130!0001\

REF!SY!123456789\

DMG!D8!19740823!M\

SES!199901!1!!!SPRING SESSION 1999\

CRS!!4!A!!!!!!!!!SPN!406!SPANISH I\

CRS!!3!B!!!!!!!!!HIS!302!TX HISTORY\

Why build the EDI Server

• Texas was using TXETN (VAN)

• Move to use Internet

• Launched the EDI Server in 1995

• Simple yet secure way to send SPEEDE/ ExPRESS transcripts via the Internet

Technologies to Support

• FTP

• SMTP with MIME

• Encryption (PGP) or ‘in the clear’

Constituencies

• Low Tech– Paper-based systems– Access to a Web Browser– DOS based translator - Quick ‘N Easy

• High(er) Tech– Integrated Admin systems– Unix, FTP support

Registration/Repository

• Institution Name

• Contact Information

• Current Status: Testing, Production etc.

• Sending, Receiving, Both?

Registration/Repository cont.

• Delivery method (FTP, email)

• Time of delivery

• Server Address (IP)

• Technical requirements (EOL character etc.)

Daily EDI Activities

• FTP to Northwest U. before 9 a.m.

• FTP to Mountain School District. Encrypt first with their PGP public key.

• Send transcripts as MIME email attachments to Virginia College.

• FTP to Loyola U. Records must be terminated with carriage return & line feed.

Hub and Spoke design

Benefits of a central server

• Many to Many• Sending

– One packet – many destinations

• Receiving– One packet - many senders

• 3rd Party trust model– Maintain PGP key ring

• Ease of Use – single set-up

Who Can Use

• Any accredited educational institution

• Vendors may obtain testing accounts

• Not limited to transcripts – any approved X12 – EDI format– TS 138 test scores– TS 189 application for admission

How to Register

• E-mail texreg@ediserver.reg.utexas.edu

• School name & code

• Contact name, e-mail address & phone #

• Delivery time

• Attach PGP public key (optional)

• Select FTP or MIME

• Specify line termination preference

SECURITY

• EDI Server on Dedicated Machine

• FTP is WRITE-ONLY access

• Logs are kept & reviewed

• E-mail notification sent upon receipt/transmission of files

• E-mail messages sent to system administrators if errors

• SPEEDE acknowledgement procedures

PGP - Pretty Good Privacy

• De-facto Internet standard

• Free to educational institutions

• Data Integrity (against changes)

• Authenticity (digital signatures)

• Privacy (no unauthorized viewing)

PGP-ENCRYPTED FILE

----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE----

Version: 2.6.2jkllhlwD/mVywpouwW87/3Jxoux/2onNQjlj/Xux/23xo4qfvowc/xP4erBp/QWxkjlkj/Ekj/lkjlkjmxTourxrwer/werVEmlou4lQV3/EzuZ4pxwAcy8e/pwK2wervpouer+Oq4vwU/ouwR3j9T5Z/i8MdP3/ouQ4ouXnV/48UcBYpo9+siVe/Pa7jdXlNwk4o/Wjh4xq73F/M7q

----END PGP MESSAGE----

What EDI server does not do

• Interpret

• Enforce

• Snoop

Why does Texas do this

• Cost Savings– Cheaper to transmit– Cheaper to receive

• Economies of Scale

• Collaboration through Standards

REGISTRATION SUMMARY

• 1200 Registered Schools in 34 States and 2 Provinces

• Some Counts by State:– Texas - 102– Iowa - 110– South Carolina - 36– North Carolina - 22– California - 27– Oklahoma - 22

ACTIVITY 04/2002 - 04/2003

• 380,000 transcripts delivered (27% increase)

• 260,000 apps. for admission (30% increase)

• 1,230,000 total transactions (23% increase)

Registrant Totals

• 1200 registrants – 600 actively trading with partners

• 54 new registrants since April 2002

• 22 new registrants in Ontario, 4 in British Columbia; 4 in Wyoming; 2 in Oregon

EDI Server Registrant List

22 001081 Arizona State University AZ Carole Andres 602-965-7550 speede@asu.edu

22 014593 University of Phoenix AZ David Goldberg 602-966-5394 jdgoldbe@apollogrp.edu

What’s Next

• Introducing the Austin Internet Server

• Adding XML capability

• Other initiatives– Quick and Easy for Windows– Enhanced Registrant Table– Secure FTP

XML Enhancements

• XML Transport and Routing

• Registration of XML capability by Institution

• Increasing XML support

• Supporting XML standards

XML Forum for Education

• Longstanding UT commitment

• XML Standards development– College Transcript– K-12– Student Loans (Commonline)– Degree Audit (DARS/Oracle)

UT-Austin Statement

"The University of Texas at Austin is a member of and active participant in the Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council and XML Forum. As with other operational and technical issues relating to the UT Austin Internet Server, it is our intention to keep current with electronic data exchange formats endorsed by PESC and approved by ANSI. Barring unforeseen circumstances, we will continue to offer the level of service currently provided while keeping pace with advancements in applicable technologies and delivery mechanisms."

-- Ted Pfeifer, Registrar, University of Texas at Austin

Continuity and Growth

• Commitment to low-cost service to higher education

• Encourage standardization and convergence

• Pilot program for commercial participation

First Step: XML Transport

Austin Server

EDISchool

School

School

School XMLXML

EDI

Next: EDI/XML Translator

TranslatorXML EDI

Hub Based Translation

Austin ServerEDISchool SchoolXML

Translator

Concerns

• Community consensus needed– Agreement to UT role

• Need for standard mapping– Interpretation– SPEEDE/PESC role?

• Resources

Receiver Based Translation

Austin Server

EDISchoolSchool

SchoolSchool

XML

XML EDI

Translator

Tra

nsla

tor

Tra

nsla

tor

Translator

Hybrid model

• Some schools register to use server translation

• Others schools receive in native format, translate on their own

REGISTRATION & REPORTS

http://www.utexas.edu/student/giac/speede

texreg@ediserver.reg.utexas.edu

Questions:

brucemarton@mail.utexas.edu