Title: Tokai Academic Cloud: an experimental intra and inter-institutional cloud infrastructure among national universities in the Tokai Region of Japan

Authors: Shoji Kajita; Hiroshi Matsuo

Addresses: Institute for Information Management and Communication, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan ' Information Technology Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8555 Japan

Abstract: This paper describes the current experiences of Tokai Academic Cloud being developed under the collaboration with researchers of information technology centres (ITC) in six national universities located at the Tokai Region in Japan. At first, we describe the background and the vision of Tokai Academic Cloud. Currently, we have been trying to implement various services using open source-based solutions developed by Jasig and Sakai Foundations on top of a single sign on mechanism using Jasig Central Authentication Service (CAS). Secondly, we propose a Shibboleth Authentication Handler in CAS server implementation by letting CAS server act as user's proxy to address the issue of identity management for inter-institutional consolidation. Thirdly, we present our latest activities on the use of VCL for teaching and learning at Nagoya University. Through these activities, we clarify the cultural aspects on implementing intra and inter-institutional cloud infrastructure based on open source solutions.

Keywords: regional consortium; virtual computing laboratory; VCL; open source; federated identity management; cloud computing; Japan; information technology; IT centres; national universities; authentication; inter-institutional collaboration; teaching and learning; higher education; cultural aspects; culture; cloud infrastructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCC.2013.055264

International Journal of Cloud Computing, 2013 Vol.2 No.2/3, pp.140 - 149

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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