An open discussion list for topics related to the eduGAIN interfederation service.

[Ian Young <ian AT iay.org.uk>]

On 5 Feb 2014, at 15:30, Thomas Lenggenhager <lenggenhager AT switch.ch> wrote:

> Why not just list on the UKf central DS the native UKf IdPs only?
> 
> The interfederation enabled SPs will have to reconfigure to use a local
> DS as UKf anyhow recommends. That would solve the original problem
> reported here.

Right, it would make this problem go away at the cost of making it harder for 
people to begin interfederating. Our view has been that reducing the friction 
there has the highest priority, because if we can't make the process as 
smooth as possible then people won't bother. You may be in a situation where 
a different approach is appropriate.

Also, to misquote Gretsky, we want to skate to where we hope the puck will 
be, not to where it is now. In the long term, if the default is to be to 
enable inter-federation, having to get everyone to switch over to some new 
thing is not optimal.

Having said which, our systems are flexible enough that we're not locked in 
to the current choices if they become problematic. I don't think that what 
we've seen so far proves the case either way.

        -- Ian

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