Planning and Implementation of Cloud Computing

in NIT’s in India: Special Reference to VNITDr. Ravikant M. Deshpande Bharati V Patle Librarian Library Trainee ravikant.deshpande@gmail.com bharati_0202@rediffmail.com Ranjana D. Bhoskar Library Trainee ranjana_bhoskar@rediffmail.com

Library and Information Resource CentreVisvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, S. A. Road, Nagpur –

440025_________________________________________________________

Abstract

Cloud Computing and Information Network both are emerging facets in the field of Information Science (IS). Cloud computing has potential to bring another wave of changes to organizations. Overall, planning and implementation of cloud computing will be beneficial in the terms of library level as well as institutional level to manage by cloud. In this paper we present RECs/NITs resources to move on for managing cloud computing. Making the decision to use cloud-based services means balancing the elements of cost, risk, and benefit to decide whether those services advance the mission of the library as well as institute. RECs/NITs Libraries can take advantage of the cloud in numerous ways, such as data sharing including discovery tools, current status of research, and software as service which depends on the cloud, email systems and social networking etc. Article recommends a road for globalizing REC’s/NIT’s libraries.

1 Introduction

“We can’t bind Sun rays,We can’t block the way of Water,

We can’t bind knowledge in Libraries,We can’t stop the Technical Revolution,

Similarly, we can’t stop progress in Cloud Computing”

Networking concept is extensively used in the Libraries. They have developed robust frameworks for resource sharing and cooperative cataloging, leveraged publisher and aggregator platforms to deliver electronic collections, and created vibrant consortia and groups that share services across regions and countries. Cloud Computing is a new paradigm in the delivery of e-resources on demand over the internet. The technical foundation of cloud computing is based on service oriented

architecture (SOA) and virtualization of hardware and software, and internet technologies. Cloud computing promises to change the way library computing is performed now, lift all technological barrier coming in the way of sharing distributed library resources and provide new tools to make access to global library resources easier and simpler and ensure that both libraries and all users can benefited from remote infrastructure and services.

The NITs (National Institute of Technology in India) have been in existing since 6 decades. They have very good developed hardware and software to manage their resources at institute level. But the resources that have been developed by them have little recognition on global level. Hence the institute in general and libraries in particular has tremendous resources that can be put on cloud thus allowing those resources to go global and sharable. The resources that are to be possibly shared have been further identified in this chapter. Moving on the cloud for the resources need careful consideration about data security, network access speed, skilled manpower and legal issues to mention a few. There are lot of pros and cons to be considered before moving on to the cloud with well studied advantages and disadvantages.

2 Libraries moving on cloud

The fast growth of technology needs for shifting traditional libraries to modern libraries. Libraries all over the world suffer from common problems like flexibility associated with the digital data, lower level of efficiency, and huge cost involved in managing the entire IT infrastructure themselves. Few options are available when it comes to collaborating with other libraries as well which is the prime reason for subordinate levels of efficiency. Cloud computing would help up in bridging the gap between digital libraries and IT. Sharing of data among the libraries will in principle reduce the overall cost and increase the efficiency. Capital expenditure done on infrastructure will chiefly be converted into operational expenditure. It will also enhance the users experience and will help in making the libraries a lot more scalable.

Shift from Traditional Library to Modern Library

3 Cloud Computing Essential Characteristics

3.1 On-demand self service

A user can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as applications, server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service’s provider.

3.2 Broad network access

Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e. g. mobile phone, laptops and PDAs)

3.3 Resource pooling

The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple users using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to user demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the user generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e. g. country, state or datacenter). Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, network bandwidth, and virtual machines.

3.4 Rapid elasticity

Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capability available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.

3.5 Measured Service

Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g. storage, processing, bandwidth and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled and reported providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.

4 Plan Cloud Library Services

4.1 Platform as a service (PaaS)

Platform as a service is a type of services meant for cloud developers, means to develop a platform to build up, install and control SaaS applications. This platform usually includes databases; software glue with its infrastructure and services is internet accessible by patron. Cloud-computing platforms are emerging from a number of organizations like OCLC (WorldShare Platform), ExLibris (Alma), Serials Solution, Library Thing, Hathi Trust, SirisDynix, Summon, DuraCloud, Google App Engine. Microsoft Azure services, CloudFoundry, Amazon Web Service, and Enterprise KOHA have since demonstrated the usefulness of cloud computing in hosting libraries on to a common platform.

4.2 Software as a service (SaaS)

Software as a service a software distribution form in which applications are hosted by services supplier and ended to clientele over the internet. Clientele purchase the facility to access and utilize an

application or service which is packed in the cloud. SaaS is usually available on demand and via the internet and can thus be configured remotely. SaaS service providers offer special selections of software running on their infrastructure. SaaS is also known as software on demand. Thus, this service is highly cost-effective and location independent. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as web browser (e. g. Web-based email).

4.3 Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

Cloud computing offers virtualized systems to access to computer hardware resources such as networks and storage. IaaS, Infrastructure as a service, defined by the variety of services to supply, i.e. servers, storage and network hardware. IaaS provides virtual machines and other related hardware and software systems through a service-based application programming interface (API). The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems; storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components. Education ERP.net, Microsoft Flexiscale, Amazon S3, Cloudstatus, GoGrid, and Oracle Coherence are offering IaaS.

5 Deployment Models of Cloud Computing

5.1 Public Cloud

The public cloud is mainly is for public use, which can be accessed by everyone. It is mainly use by large organization or institution. In this deployment the cloud infrastructure is accessible to general public and shared in a “pay as you go” model of payment. The cloud resources are accessible via the internet and the provider is responsible for ensuring the economies of scale and the management of the shared infrastructure. It is highly scalable and automated provisioning of commodity computer resource. The Google App Engine, Microsoft windows Azure, IBM Smart Cloud and Amazon EC2 are example of public cloud. In this type of cloud, the organization does not access or use the public cloud which is accessible to the general public.

5.2 Private Cloud

Private cloud and internal cloud are terms used to describe offering that emulate cloud computing on private network. It is infrastructure to be operated within the organization, for the users who wants to share specific information within the institution. In this model the cloud resources are not shared by unknown third parties. Clients’ security and compliance requirements are not affected though this offering does not bring the benefits associated with reduced capital expenditure in IT infrastructure investments. The general public does not have access to the private cloud neither does the organization use the public cloud.

5.3 Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid cloud is the combination of infrastructure of two or more clouds i.e. public or private. One hybrid cloud servers its clientele with

the collection of multiple public or private clouds as per their demand and requirement. A hybrid cloud exhibits the characteristics of both public and private clouds. It achieves maximum cost reduction through outsourcing which is a feature of public clouds, and maintains high degree of control over sensitive data, which is a feature of private cloud. An example for hybrid cloud would be library data stored in private cloud of each participating library and application running in the public cloud / community cloud

5.4 Community Cloud

A community cloud is applicable to serve a common function or purpose. In which cloud services are shared by several organizations and support a specific community that has shared and similar concerns. These services may be managed by the organizations or third party and may exist off site. It may be for one university or for several universities, but they share common concerns such as their mission, policies, online resources, union catalogues, security, regulatory compliance needs, and so on. This community cloud model for library can be very suitable model and can be deployed at various levels (Institutional Consortia, National and International.) very much similar Government or G-Cloud. This type of cloud computing is provided by one or more agencies for use by all, or most libraries

6 Status of REC’s/NIT’s in India

India is a huge country with a population of more than 1 billion. In India, by tradition, education and learning are highly valued. In fact, India has one of the largest higher education systems in the world, with regard to the number of institution. Education is a necessity. It is the most effective instrument with which the people can acquire the knowledge, skills, and capability to develop wisdoms it is developing nation. The seeds for some of India’s higher education institutions were planted in the latter half of the Twenty Century. National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are premier institutes of engineering and technology in India and are the new faces of the earlier Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs).

In the year 2002, the Govt. of India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, decided

to upgrade all the 17 existing Regional Engineering Colleges (RECs) as National Institutes of Technology (NITs), on the lines of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The NITs have the responsibility of providing high quality education in engineering and technology to produce competent technical manpower for the country. Libraries being treasure house of knowledge and information are one invaluable way to provide informal education since each library is a hub of all academic activities.

All the 30 NIT’s now offer degree courses of Bachelors, Master and Doctorate levels in various branches of Engineering and Technology. The entire non recurring expenditure and expenditure for post graduate courses during the REC times were borne by the central government. On the other hand the entire recurring expenditure on undergraduate courses was shared equally by the central and state government. NITs have a Central Library equipped with technical books, literature, fiction, scientific journals, and other electronic material. Most have digitized their libraries. Some provide an intranet library facility. Every departmental library has high-speed connectivity. Electronic libraries allow students access to online journals and other periodicals through the AICTE-INDEST consortium, an initiative by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Students also have access to IEEE documents and journals. While some have video conferencing facilities, others are upgrading under the World Bank funded TEQIP scheme.

All REC’s / NIT’s have various factors are responsible for moving on towards sharable e-resources as well as institution records for finding statistic easily and it should be provide access only to authorized, authenticated users and those users need to be able to trust that their data is secure in cloud computing.

Institute Status as National Importance Uninterrupted Technological Support from the Institute

Facilities for E-resources Facilitating Management Support

RFID Implementation Adequate Financial Support

Automated Library Aid from MHRD

Qualified Network Support TEQIP Funding

Library Digitization in Progress ISO Accredited LIRC

Hold of INDEST-AICTE Consortium Well Qualified and Trained Human Resources

Well Organized Library on Functional Basis Well Defined Policies Rules and Regulations

7 Cloud Computing Challenges Shaping Library Services REC’s/NIT’s in India

Increasing competition for resources and attention across NIT’s and communities is driving changes in the ways resource centers work and collaborate. NIT’s resource centers are investing in programs and technologies that can raise the visibility of and access to their resources. NIT’s resources Centre are coming together for facing challenges for shaping library services.

Build capacity and impact through cooperation

The need for broader, diverse partnerships

Factors Responsible for moving on Cloud Computing

Challenges of proving relevance

Finding new efficiencies as budget pressures intensify

Dynamics of serving and education system under reconstruction

Amplify the value they bring to the community they serve

Rethinking the library’s role in the terms of greater collaboration and cooperation with other

institutions

Redeveloping the library’s online presence to better address user needs

The need for new types of analytics and metrics more closely tied to performance measures

Share innovative and efficient solutions to keep up with the rapid pace of change

Analyze data in new way that link library value to student learning, educational value and

community impact

Demands to deliver resources electronically, ubiquitously, seamlessly

Managing the transaction from print to electronic media

Keeping pace with the rate of technological change

Leverage their higher-value services

8 Planning and Implementation of Cloud Computing in REC’s/NIT’s

Every new technology has advantages over the previous one, but necessarily lacks some of its predecessors attributes. Familiarity, which no doubt breeds contempt, breeds also comfort; that which is unfamiliar breeds distrust. Planning is a continuous process, it changes in the course of time and in the light of experience as we ourselves change. For fulfilling the patron demands there is a necessity for improvement in the plan and implement of new technologies. If planning and implementing innovative technologies in library are introduced to understand and fulfill the needs of the 21 st century digital native users in one face of the coin, then assessing and accounting for the success of these services is the other important face of the same coin

Cloud-Computing is a different form of IT infrastructure. Information software or other IT

services are stored and accessed via third party servers connected to the internet, rather than on individual computers or on private servers. This is not a new concept. Anyone who has a web-based email account such as ‘Hotmail’ or ‘Gmail’ is using a simple form of cloud-computing. Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, IBM, Google and Yahoo are just a few of the major IT companies who are developing or expanding their offerings to the commercial sector by giving businesses the opportunity to out-source various elements of their IT infrastructure with access achieved via the Internet (also known as “cloud-sourcing”)

Cost savings and a reduced burden of running and maintaining IT Infrastructure is the key features that make cloud-sourcing attractive. Removing storage and processing burdens on businesses can save huge amounts in capital cost (in terms of having to provide hard drives and servers to physically store and process data) and running costs (the housing and maintenance of on-site servers). There are also arguments that this can reduce a business’s carbon footprint. To make Real-Time

Library with Cloud-Scale Integration successful in today’s global, 24×7 information environment and library/information center’s operations need to be plugged into the Web. Library systems have to connect seamlessly to users and all the rich resources available online. In this webcast, we need to learn about the technologies and operation models that enable real-time connections with users and resources, and find out the characteristics to look for when selecting a cloud integration platform.

Budgeting is a managerial device used for planning and facilitating resolutions about the distributing of resources. It is also one means of monitoring the results to ensure they conform to the plan. The budget expresses financially how the library will achieve its outcomes, and as such must be linked to the libraries priorities. Preparation of the budget should always be the role of the library advisory committee in consultation with other library staff. The first step in developing a library budget is to look at what the library hopes to accomplish in the next year. The availability of a current long-range plan will make this step much easier, because the plan should already document library user resources need and the library activities necessary to meet those needs.

The second step is to determine the total financial resources necessary for what the library wants to accomplish in the coming year. Often, increased funding is necessary because of increased costs, increased usage, and/or new services that will be offered. Additional resources for new services can also be made available by shifting resources from a lower priority to a higher priority services. Budgeting should not be seen as an isolated or incidental exercise. It must be inextricably tied to the notion of priorities and needs. The effective budget should be fair, appropriate, documented and well publicized. It is essential that forthcoming needs are clearly identified and cost effective.

Fig. All NITs sharing through cloud

9 Integration among REC’s / NIT’s Resources Centers

REC’s/ NIT’s libraries are finding it difficult to keep pace with the ever growing need of enhanced and better forms of information. Ever year, thousands of books are bought by the NIT’s resource Centers in order to keep track with the latest available literature on different subjects. Obviously, with their fixed budgets, not all books (or eBooks) can be purchased. Every library tends to have certain data which may be present in some other libraries too which leads to a lot of duplication of data. However, if the REC’s/NIT’s libraries integrate their data, there would be no more duplication since the libraries would be sharing the common data. The implementation of this technique, though, may not be as simple as it may seem to be. It is here that cloud computing can play its part. Cloud computing can help REC’s libraries collaborate with each other in a facile manner. Every library has its own electronic data resources. If the all the electronic data resources are put together in a single place which may be accessed by a group of NIT’s libraries, the whole electronic data base will become huge. This space which contains all the electronic data can be some cloud, say, a library cloud. This library cloud will contain the digitized data of different libraries and hence, will help libraries integrate their data. The need for maintaining and backing up the data will be no more the responsibility of the libraries since all the data will be stored in the cloud which shall be managed by some cloud provider.

It will also help the NIT' libraries in scaling up or down their data capacity whenever required. This scaling up or down is purely a function of need. Hence, the libraries would be consuming exactly the required space. Not a megabyte more! As a result, NIT’s libraries will not have to predict their future needs and buy space and infrastructure beforehand. This co adjuvant effort of the NIT’s libraries will not only increase the overall efficiency (since the data will be shared) but also open doors for innovation, make libraries a lot more scalable and help save money as well. HathiTrust3 is a great example which shows us what cloud computing holds in store for the libraries. HaithiTrust is a repository for keeping huge amount of digitized data being shared among its members. It was founded in October 2008 and already has over sixty partners mostly including university libraries all around the world.

10 Security and Privacy

There are numerous security issues for cloud computing as it encompasses many technologies including networks, databases, operating systems, virtualization, resource scheduling, transaction management, load balancing, concurrency control and memory management. Therefore security issues for many of these systems and technologies are applicable to cloud computing. For example, the network that interconnects the systems in a cloud has to be secure. Furthermore, virtualization paradigm in cloud computing leads to several security concerns. Data security involves encrypting the data as well as ensuring that appropriate policies are enforce for data sharing. In addition, resource a location and memory management algorithms have to be secure. Security can be established using strong authentication, authorization and accounting procedure, establishing security of data at rest and in transit, locking down networks and hardening operating systems, middleware, and application software. It should be provide access only to authorized, authenticated users and those users need to be able to trust that their data is secure.

Cloud computing have wonderful security measure of encrypted and de-encrypted privacy in which there is arrangement of scrambled words which are not familiar to the machine language but it is familiar to human being these efforts are being made to identifying human being to a machine with security. There is interface of identifying correct human being to the machine so that machine will move on the information more securely if the person is identified. Somewhere scramble words are needed to be entering so that the correct human beings are too identified. Then only there is a foolproof

security. For example in IRCTC debit card or credit card are being verified at IRCTC for visa verification.

11 Preamble of VNIT

Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur is one of the thirty National Institutes of Technology in the country. Earlier, the Institute was known as Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering (VRCE). It was established in the year 1960 under the scheme sponsored by Govt. of India and Govt. of Maharashtra. In 2002 VRCE become VNIT with Deemed University status from UGC and Central Government taking full financial & administrative responsibility. August 2007 VNIT becomes Institute of National Importance under the act of parliament.

The Library has been established in the 1960 when the state engineering college was in existence. The Library has also received recognition as one of the best libraries in central India due to REC status. VNIT Library serves its users with the best services and to fulfill the requirements of the users as well as the organization. Since in this changing environment with the introduction of new technologies and the changing perception about the information and the information system it is seen that the library need to understand this change and work accordingly with the current situations and accept the current trends. As automation become a boon factor VNIT LIRC changed itself from a traditional library to the new modern library with the introduction of different technologies available for library automation. From 1994 onwards VNIT, LIRC is using LIBSYS software package for library activities. It made an infrastructure for LIBSYS software by using different networks like LAN and different points for user (OPAC) to consult the catalogue. After this it started with new technology i.e. Barcode technology in the year 2010 and now it has gone one step ahead with the implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). The status of VNIT is capable for encroachment of cloud computing.

11.1 Factors Responsible for moving on Cloud Computing in LIRC VNIT

Development needs up-gradation and for perusing next step VNIT is ready to accept new technology. Above all NIT’s level factors are also seen in VNIT therefore organization can be moving on cloud computing. These are the factors of LIRC VNIT which are responsible for cloud computing.

Institute Status as National Importance

Automated Library

Library Digitization in Progress

RFID Implementation

Hold of INDEST-AICTE Consortium

Facilities for E-resources

Well Organized Library on Functional Basis

Well Defined Policies Rules and Regulations

Qualified Network Support

Well Qualified and Trained Human Resources

Uninterrupted Technological Support from the Institute

Techno Savvy Chairman ET and LS

Facilitating Management Support

Adequate Financial Support

ISO Accredited LIRC

Aid from MHRD

TEQIP Funding

11.2 Resources at Institute Level that can be moved to Cloud Computing

National important acquired VNIT institute have robust framework for statistical, literary, cultural, educational resources so again for maintaining standard there is need of sharing these resources to every person. Therefore cloud computing architecture will open up new opportunities for more shared access and more use and creation of new information for the organization. A Cloud base information service for education and research institution will open up numerous opportunities for sharing data and information that are currently held within the servers of specific institute. VNIT can share following data through cloud computing.

Faculty Profile Student Profile (like student grade report) Literary Events Funding Criteria for admission Cultural Events Technological Event Axis, Consortium, Yuddha, Love for Physics, Astronomy Club Sharing of Virtual Class Room Social Networking National / International Conferences

11.3 Resources at Library Level that can be move to Cloud Computing

Cloud computing represents one of the most important technology trends of our time. Every day we make use of computing and information resources through a web browser powered by some distant and diffuse infrastructure. This model has become routine for personal use—e-mail, word processing, social networking, photo sharing. In more recent months and years cloud computing has entered the library technology sphere. Cloud computing brings the opportunity for libraries to shift away from the need to own and operate their own servers to power their core automation applications and to instead shift to gaining similar functionality through web-based services. In order to develop technology strategies in this context, it’s essential for libraries to have a solid understanding of this new technology landscape, to move beyond a vague awareness of cloud computing. VNIT resource center have ready to encroach cloud computing for these knowledgeable resources which are beneficial for our patrons. Migration of libraries are responsible for researchers activity which are bust up our national level through moving library material on cloud computing. VNIT have valuable resource material as below:

E-Books E-Journals NPTEL Lectures Workshop Programmers Institutional Repository (with the help of Greenstone) Assessment and peer review Research Publications National / International Conferences Papers Thesis and Reports Research Work Digitization of rare Books in PDF form

(With the use of newly introduction of “RECAPTCHA” programme)

CONCLUSION

Cloud computing will help the integration of REC’s / NIT’s libraries in a painless easy manner. NIT’s libraries will be able to share their electronic data resources which shall lead to reduction of duplicate data resulting in cutting down the overall budget of libraries. The dependency of libraries on external agencies for matters pertaining IT is also expected to reduce considerably. Capital expenditure on hardware resources will be converted to operational expenditure. Scalability of cloud computing will also help in saving money. Libraries will also become greener by embracing the cloud. Server utilization, which will increase considerably, along with multi-tenancy, will help reduce carbon emissions annually. The more the NIT’s libraries work together to aggregate and share data, utilize shared infrastructure and collaborate as a global community, the more value can be delivered to the users of libraries.

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