leung hoang (lghoang@gmail) graham laverty ([email protected])
DESCRIPTION
Aladdin Project : Organizing the Assembly and Provision of Resources to Mac OS X Users using Distributed File System Technology. Leung Hoang ([email protected]) Graham Laverty ([email protected]) Samuel Wong ([email protected]) Supervisor: Dr. Craig Scratchley ([email protected]). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Aladdin Project:Organizing the Assembly and Provision of Resources toMac OS X Users using Distributed File System Technology
Leung Hoang ([email protected])Graham Laverty ([email protected])
Samuel Wong ([email protected])
Supervisor: Dr. Craig Scratchley ([email protected])
What is Aladdin?
Distributed System providing seamless access to online “soft computing resources” to Mac OS X users
Distributed
Seamless
“Soft computing resources”
What is Aladdin?
Easy instant access to a wealth of resources (from programs to fonts)
Simply run the Aladdin installer (very quick)
Then all provided programs/resources instantly available
No need to locate or install software
Seamless?
“Soft computing resources” appear to have been shipped by Apple with the OS
No need for a manual install process.Just double-click a file to automatically load
it in the right application!Fonts automatically appear in word
processors programs and text editors
What Resources?
What “soft computing resources” will be hosted?ApplicationsFontsSoundsPicturesMany Other
Possibilities
Why Mac OS X?
Mac can easily scan network resourcesExpanding to Linux is a possibility, at
least for some resourcesOther platforms can still use Aladdin
Can use as a distribution point (images, sounds)
Delivery and usage of resources is NOT seamless
Project Goals
Establish Aladdin as an international distributed system hosting “multilingual” resources for the global Mac OS X community
Promote collaboration from a diverse spectrum of individuals and organizations regardless of language, culture, nationality
Project Goals cont.
Improve the user experience for Apple end-users, increasing options and computer usability
Catalyze development in distributed file system technology
Inspire development of similar resource networks for other platforms
Distributed Network
UNBC
SFUUVic
Prince Rupert
Administrative Difficulty
Size and Scope of AladdinResource Administration
Managing and maintaining a diverse number of applications and resources can quickly become overwhelming for a small team stagnation
Server administration of volunteer servers can quickly become time-consuming
Also this can help overcome linguistic barriers
Resource Administration
Top-down hierarchyOpenAFS provides only flat
administrationWeb-based application, written using
Apple’s WebObjects FrameworkMakes it easy to administrate resources,
and further delegate/subdelegate responsibility to new admins
Resource Administration
Root Administrators
Library Applications
FontsWeb Browsers
SoundsWord
Processors
Latin Cyrillic
Jim
(Canada)Anna
(Russia)
Resource Administration…
A now time for a little demo…
Server Administration
3-tier Java-client WebObjects applicationLikely a “shallow” hierarchyServer Administrators are organized
geographically or linguistically, etc.Individual organisations can add many
servers
Server Administration
Aladdin
Simon Fraser University
All Content
Shaw
Telus
English Content
English
Content
Hiro
(Japan)Japanese Content
Joe
Shaw Customer
Astrolyte
Suki
Telus Customer
Kanji Font
Benefits And Solutions from a Business Perspective
Who benefits most?Apple end-usersApple Incorporated – drive apple sales ISPs (Telus, Shaw, Bell, etc.)
Can offer extra value to their clientsEncourage upgrade away from dial-up
Universities ResearchersStudents (computer labs)Staff
Benefits And Solutions from a Business Perspective cont.
What about commercial entities?
90%
10%
Aladdin Resources
10
Company’s ServersEmployees
Replicate subset of Aladdin’s content Charge for support?
Benefits And Solutions from a Business Perspective cont.
Other benefits to commercial companies?Saves system administrators time
Latest version of software quickly availableSecurity updates done automatically – no need
to update or patchAladdin is easy to use
Less time needed for technical supportMinimal setup, no ongoing maintenance
How to commercialize….
SubscriptionsSoftware companies can submit limited
software to AladdinThey get free public exposureWe get a share of the revenue from licenses
soldAdvertisements
Website, forums
A Collaborative Effort
Root
Administrators
Server
Administrators
•ISPs
•End Users
•Companies
•Organizations
Open Source Community
A Collaborative Effort cont.
Root
Administrators
Resource
AdministratorsApple End Users
Suggestions
Summary
Aladdin is easy to use, seamless, and instantly gives you access to large number of applications and resources
Thank you!
Questions?