SURA is exploring the development of practical training workshops in middleware deployment that will leverage the experience and knowledge being gained in the NSF Middleware Initiative (NMI) Integration Testbed. The development and offering of a prototype workshop, "Deploying an Enterprise Directory and Directory-Enabled Applications, was supported through the NSF PACS (Partnership for Advanced Computational Science) Program and offered in August and September 2003 to early adopters from the Council of Independent Colleges and the AN-MSI project.

Course materials were developed by SURA, Georgia State University and the University of Florida, with input and review provided by additional content experts from NMI Testbed sites at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and members of the NMI-EDIT project team. These materials include:

Course Description Course Agenda Supporting Directory Scenario (& related data)

Main presentation (minus instructor notes) Readers' Guide to the Directory Implementation Roadmap

Exercises:

Howeer U. Survey Howeer U. Identity worksheet Howeer U. Identity - Part II Implementation Timeline

Communication Plan Working with Stakeholders Application Data Flow Directory Application Tour

SURA is currently investigating means of expanding upon this work, including the offering of additional directory workshops and also the development of similar small group training for other areas of middleware deployment, such as grids and middleware-enabled video conferencing.

For more information, contact Mary Fran Yafchak, SURA IT Program Coordinator and NMI Testbed Manager.