Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 17.16
Integrating PDS
and SRB/iRODS
When considering the option of integrating PDS with iRODS (see Fig.
17.16
),
each layer should be referenced separately. Integrating PDS' preservation engine
layer into iRODS will add a new OAIS-compliant API dedicated for long term
preservation, that offloads OAIS functionality from the client and provides it in the
API. The XAM library may be exposed as an application interface (at the top) or
as a storage interface (at the bottom). The OSD layer may be placed at the storage
interface layer. The utilization of XAM and OSD layers is optional. Instead, a new
mapping layer of the preservation engine to iRODS may be developed.
17.6.4 PDS Summary and Future Directions
The long-term digital preservation problem is becoming more real as we find
ourselves in the midst of a digital era. Old assumptions regarding information
preservation are no longer valid, and it is clear that significant actions are needed to
ensure the understandability of data for decades to come. In order to address these
changes, new technologies and systems are being developed. Such systems will be
able to better address these vital issues if they are equipped with storage technology
that is inherently dedicated to preservation and that supports the different aspects of
the preservation environment. An appropriate storage system will make any solution
more robust and decrease the probability of data corruption or loss.
PDS is an innovative OAIS-based preservation-aware storage component.
Awareness of preservation “metadata” facilitates authenticity and referential
integrity management, and eventually supports logical preservation. Moreover,
many preservation actions are executed within PDS and do not require the involve-
ment of higher application logic as they are best executed close to the data
