LOCKSS

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

Similar systems for long-term archiving are the LOCKSS-based CLOCKSS (controlled LOCKSS) and Portico .

background

LOCKSS was a response to the problem posed by the paradigm shift from print to electronic publication. The physical nature of printed journals made it possible for libraries and other subscribers to be given a copy of the paid document by publishers. There was a physical object on the library premises that was still accessible in the library premises even after the subscription ended. With the establishment of electronic distribution channels, the actual delivery of documents shifted towards leasing access. Today, a library pays for access to a publisher's documents and makes this access available to users. If access to the journal is terminated, access to the resource will no longer be possible. This is exactly where LOCKSS comes in.

functionality

The LOCKSS principle is based on the storage of objects as a bit stream on different hard drives (so-called LOCKSS boxes ). These hard drives should be distributed around the world in order to minimize the security risk. The LOCKSS-Box is integrated into the network infrastructure of a library and configured in such a way that it holds copies of the subscribed content - it therefore acts as a cache. Usually the option of using the LOCKSS-Box as a transparent proxy is also used . In this way, it is possible to deliver the archived version if the requested resource is not available without this being directly recognizable 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 kept in the network. Each institution decides for itself which content it considers relevant and which should be included in its archive node. The number of copies in the entire network is therefore dependent on decisions that are made locally. For secure storage, however, at least seven copies are always necessary, since the regular checking of the objects for integrity takes place with the help of checksums and a clear result can only be expected in the case of at least seven boxes involved.

Deliver content

There are three ways in which LOCKSS provides content: as a proxy , as a web server and through integration using an OpenURL resolver.

  • Institutions use web proxies to allow users off campus to access restricted content. When configuring for proxy access, the LOCKSS system ensures that content requests are seamlessly met if the content is no longer available from the original source.
  • In the web server model, local content is provided via web addresses from the LOCKSS system. LOCKSS checks whether the original source provides content to meet a specific requirement. If the content from the original source is no longer available, LOCKSS provides its own copy.
  • Institutions can make content discoverable and accessible via their discovery systems by adding the LOCKSS system as a target in their OpenURL resolver.

LOCKSS alliance

The LOCKSS Alliance (LOCKSS Alliance) consists of over 100 members. Members of the alliance pay a membership fee (depending on the size of the institution) and have a say in the direction and development of LOCKSS. Today LOCKSS is 100% financed by the contributions of the members of the LOCKSS alliance.

Global LOCKSS network

Objects that are of general interest are stored in the global LOCKSS network. It is mainly about magazines. These objects are usually saved more than seven times since they appeal to a broad community and therefore many institutions 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 more intended for content that is only of interest to a previously defined group of people. A PLN brings together institutions that assume that they want to archive similar objects. The PLN from LuKII and the SAFE Archiving Federation are represented in German-speaking countries .

Examples of PLNs

  • The Alabama Digital Preservation Network (ADPN)
  • Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records' Persistent Digital Archives and Library System (PeDALS)
  • 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
  • DFG project NatHosting - PLN in combination with Portico: Portico is used primarily for the offer of larger publishers, a private LOCKSS network for the "long tail" of smaller publishers that are particularly at risk of failure.

software

The software for the global LOCKSS network can be downloaded directly and free of charge from the LOCKSS homepage or SourceForge (see web links ) . The software is offered as source code, as an architecture- independent RPM package (requires Java 1.6) and together with an integrated Linux installation as a live CD based on CentOS 5.6. Step-by-step installation instructions for use with the Live CD can also be found on the homepage.

literature

  • Vicky Reich and David SH Rosenthal: LOCKSS (Lots of copies keep stuff safe). In: New review of Academic Librarianship, 2000, vol. 6, pp. 155-161. doi: 10.1080 / 13614530009516806
  • Petros Maniatis, Mema Roussopoulos, TJ Giuli, David SH Rosenthal and Mary Baker: The LOCKSS peer-to-peer digital preservation system . ACM Transactions on Computer Systems (TOCS), 2005, vol. 23 Issue 1. doi: 10.1145 / 1047915.1047917
  • K. Grzeschik, N. Fromm and P. Aust: LuKII (LOCKSS and KOPAL infrastructure and interoperability). In: BITonline - Journal for Library, Information and Technology, 13 (3): 300–302.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Comparison of CLOCKSS, Global LOCKSS Network, and Portico. CLOCKSS Archive, LOCKSS Program, Portico, July 2019, accessed on March 24, 2020 .
  2. ↑ SAFE Archiving FEderation Private LOCKSS Network. Retrieved June 20, 2014 .
  3. ↑ Hildegard Schäffler, Michael Seadle, Karl-Heinz Weber: Permanent access to digital publications - the DFG project NatHosting . In: o-bib. The open library journal / published by the VDB . tape 2 , December 18, 2015, p. 279–284 , doi : 10.5282 / O-BIB / 2015H4S279-284 ( o-bib.de [accessed on March 24, 2020]).