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

[Leif Johansson <leifj AT sunet.se>]

BTW I don't feel the need to keep quiet on this because there is
still one rock left unturned :-)

> I'd like to conclude with a metaphor: You built a road without defining on 
> what side the cars should drive. Now this needs to be defined and you say: 
> prefer the right to the left, you will probably be fine, in most cases. But 
> don't quote us on that, if you have an accident, it's your own fault. The 
> result will likely be that your road will not be used very much. I would 
> like to see some leadership here. Who, if not you, eduGAIN, can actually 
> bring about changes in this area?

Sure... but ...

edugain and all the other NREN federation infrastructure is primarily
used to enable bulk service delivery and less to enable research-
related services.

You may argue that this is a result of poor priorities but in fact
it is not. If you look at the number of students and employees
served by (say) Box or some of the other general collaboration
services they massively out-strip the number of users of research-
related services worldwide in total.

This is of course also unfortunate since research is key for NRENS!

We (NRENs) need your help to play "follow the money" in order to
explain to our customers (universities etc) why enabling identity
for research-related services is "good for business".

Currently all we can tell our customers is "Clarin wants X" and "CERN
wants Y". Each of these projects are not big enough separately to
make it to the top of the pile (ymww of course).

To this end, the e-science community needs to learn speak with one
voice telling the R&E federations what it needs.

It is - as always - a marketing problem and must be addressed as such.

        Cheers Leif