LOCKSS

LOCKSS ( Lots Of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) is a US-based open-source system for long- term preservation of digital objects, which was developed in 1998 by David Rosenthal at Stanford University in California.

Background

LOCKSS was a response to the problem that brought the paradigm shift from the printed to the electronic publication with it. The physical nature of printed journals made ​​it that libraries and other subscribers was left by the publishers a copy of the paid signature piece. It was a physical object in the premises of the library available, which was available in the library rooms even after the termination of the subscription as before. With the establishment of electronic distribution channels, the actual delivery of documents shifted towards the leasing of access. Today, a library pays for the access to the documents of a publishing house and provides this access available to users. If the access to the journal is terminated, no access to the resource is no longer possible. It is at this point that in LOCKSS.

Operation

The LOCKSS principle is based on the storage of objects as the bit stream on different disks (so-called LOCKSS boxes). These disks should be distributed worldwide to minimize the security risk. The LOCKSS box is integrated into the network infrastructure of a library and configured such that it holds up copies of the subscription content - so it acts as a cache. Usually, the possibility is also used to use the LOCKSS box as a transparent proxy. In this way it is possible to deliver the archived version in case of unavailability of the requested resource, although this is not directly visible to the user. In a LOCKSS network, it is usually a question at the level of the institutions involved, how many copies of content are maintained in the network. Each institution decides for itself what content it deems relevant and which should be thus introduced into their archive node. The number of copies of the entire network is therefore dependent on decisions to be taken locally. However, at least seven copies are for you to safely store always necessary as the regular inspection of the items carried on integrity using checksums and only in the case of at least seven participating boxes a clear result can be expected.

LOCKSS Alliance

The LOCKSS Alliance ( LOCKSS Alliance) consists of over 100 members. Alliance members pay a membership fee ( depending on the size of the device) and have a say in relation to the direction and development of LOCKSS.

Global LOCKSS Network

In the Global LOCKSS Network objects are stored, which are of general interest. This is mainly to magazines. These objects are usually more frequent than seven times saved because they appeal to a broad community and that is why many facilities archive these objects in their LOCKSS box. The Global LOCKSS network is maintained by the LOCKSS team at Stanford University and financed by funds from the LOCKSS Alliance.

Private LOCKSS Network (PLN)

In contrast to the global LOCKSS network a private LOCKSS network is intended rather for content that is only available for a pre- defined group of persons of interest. An example of a PLN is the project LuKII. In a PLN close together institutions that assume that they want to archive similar properties.

Examples of PLNs

  • The Alabama Digital Preservation Network ( ADPN )
  • Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries ( COPPUL )
  • Data Preservation Alliance for the Social Sciences (Data -PASS )
  • Digital Commons - Berkeley Electronic Press
  • MetaArchive Cooperative Project
  • LuKII - LOCKSS and KOPAL infrastructure and interoperability

Financing

LOCKSS is funded today to 100 % by the contributions of members of the LOCKSS Alliance.

Software

The software for the Global LOCKSS network can directly and free of charge from the LOCKSS homepage or SourceForge ( see Related links ) are downloaded. Software is delivered as source code, as architecture-independent RPM package ( requires Java 1.6) and offered together with an integrated Linux installation as a live CD based on CentOS 5.6. On the homepage there is also a step - by-step installation guide is for use with the Live CD.

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