uPortal.Cornell

Using uPortal to integrate disparate campus systems

Jon Atherton, Cornell Information Technologiesjca8@cornell.edu

Outline

Infrastructure Where we started The Vision Implementation goals A New Face Where we are heading

The Infrastructure

Authentication (Kerberos) Kclient SideCar CUWebAuth

Authorization (Permit server) Software Distribution (Project Salsa) Directory (LDAP)

Where we started

Bear Access CUinfo Dozens of web sites Legacy applications Single Sign-on in place PeopleSoft 8 Blackboard

Roles Maintain Framework (CIT)

Bear Access uPortal

Content Publisher (CIT) Packaging & Delivery group

Content/Service Providers (Campus wide) Library - Campus Store Registrar - CIT

The Vision Improve access to current & relevant

information Create the next generation enterprise

point of entry Bear Access CUinfo

Maintain current roles

Implementation goals Leverage existing infrastructure

Authentication (Kerberos single sign on) Authorization (permit service) Software distribution (Project Salsa) Directory (LDAP)

Deliver Existing Services Minimal modifications to uPortal source

uPortal.Cornell

Single Enterprise point of entry Integrate existing services Window into larger applications Aggregate resources Pull in external resources Personalized & Customizable

Putting on a new face

Bear Access First released in

1992 Deployed to all staff,

students & faculty Provides software

distribution Access to licensed

software Limited

customizability

Bear Access channel Jsp based

CWebProxy channel Can display content

based on group (permit) membership

Provides software distribution capability

User customizable

CUinfo Originally a

terminal based mainframe app

Then became a gopher site

Currently is an Index to web sites

Also contains Web apps

CUinfo Browser channel CWebProxy

channel Hierarchical menu

of CUinfo content

Student Jobs Web application

written in REXX accessing mainframe content using proprietary protocol

Student job listings channel

Jsp based CWebProxy channel

New interface to existing back-end application

Permit maintenance page Web pages used

to maintain permit groups

Difficult to use

Group maintenance channel

New interface, allowed non-techies to maintain permit groups

Contains most of the functionality of web pages

Administrative Services channel

Provides access to PeopleSoft 8

Based on LaunchPad channel

Library Gateway channel

Hosted by Library Provides same

access as “Library Gateway” web site.

CERT Advisories channel .rss channel

provided by CERT

Employee Essentials Currently exists

as a web app Reads from

database Updates to

Peoplesoft via WebMethods and PS8 component interface

More about … Employee

Essentials Collaborative effort

between CIT and HR CIT built data access

components as jsp’s HR built web app

using jsp’s Components have

been reused in other apps

webMethods Integration broker Enables disparate

systems to share information in a common manner

Central control and storage point that mediates events to and from applications

New EE channel

See demo

Currently prototyping

Will be joint effort again

This time CIT will write Web Services (SOAP) to access appropriate data

HR is developing using Cold Fusion

Where we are going

Roles Maintain Framework (CIT)

Bear Access uPortal

Content Publisher (CIT) Packaging & Delivery group

Content/Service Providers (Campus wide) Library - Campus Store Registrar - CIT

Evolving Roles

Maintain Framework (CIT/Infrastructure) uPortal upgrades Develop new infrastructure channels

Content Publisher (CIT/Packaging & Delivery) Coordinate between content/service

providers and infrastructure group Content/Service Providers (Campus wide)

Content Working Group

Demo Bear Access uPortal.Cornell

Bear Access CUinfo Browser Student Jobs Group Maintenance Library Gateway CERT Advisories Administrative Services

http://guest.uportal.cornell.edu