Externally-Hosted Web Services

Brian Kelly

UK Web Focus

UKOLN

University of Bath

UKOLN is funded by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) of the Higher and Further Education Funding Councils, as well as by project funding from the JISC and the European Union. UKOLN also receives support from the University of Bath where it is based.

Email: B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.ukURL: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

SummaryThis talk describes a variety of externally-hosted Web services and ponders on their applicability for UK Public Libraries

SummaryThis talk describes a variety of externally-hosted Web services and ponders on their applicability for UK Public Libraries

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Ring Any Bells?• You manage a Web service or create

departmental Web pages• Your job was fun once, but now it's difficult to

keep on top the job• You need extra resources, but can’t get them• Your good Unix systems staff have left for $$$$• There is a software solution, but it's expensive• You tried to install the 14 day evaluation version,

but couldn't get it to work• When you eventually got it to work, your PC

wasn't powerful enough to run it• You can't afford an upgrade to your PC

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An Answer To The Webmaster's Prayer?A solution may be available:

• A solution which is free (in many cases)• A solution which requires no software installation• A solution which requires no investment in

hardware• A solution which exploits the network – remember

Sun’s slogan “The network is the computer”

The solution is deployment of externally-hosted Web services

Sounds great? But will it mean outsourcing your IT department?

Sounds great? But will it mean outsourcing your IT department?

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What Do We Mean?Remember HTML Validation services:

• Enter a URL into a Web form and check it validates

• Add an image if your page is valid HTML

• Link the page to the validation for on-the-fly validation - an externally-hosted web service

Another example is the hit counterAnother example is the hit counter

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What edge of this spectrum are you closest to?

Sorry I'm indecisive.I can't decide.

Your View So Far

Sounds great, no software to install, available for free. What else can be done in this way?

No way! I don't want to be reliant on anyone else. Besides, I'll be out of a job if this idea takes off – this is out-sourcing.

QuestionHas anyone made use of externally-hosted Web services?

QuestionHas anyone made use of externally-hosted Web services?

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Hit Counters to Web StatsHit counters have developed into comprehensive Web statistical services

See <http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue5/indicators/>Comparison of externally-hosted and licensed approaches to be published in Exploit Interactive in issue 7.

See <http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue5/indicators/>Comparison of externally-hosted and licensed approaches to be published in Exploit Interactive in issue 7.

Model• Link to image

held on remote Web site

• Follow link to remote site to get graphical display of hits

• Use JavaScript to record PC profile

Model• Link to image

held on remote Web site

• Follow link to remote site to get graphical display of hits

• Use JavaScript to record PC profile

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eGroups Mailing Lists

eGroups lets you set up free mailing lists

eGroups provides an email and Web interface

Calendars, polls and databases are also provided by eGroups

How does this compare with Listproc or Majordomo installed locally?

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You can use www.smartgroups.com if you want a UK-based equivalent

You can use www.smartgroups.com if you want a UK-based equivalent

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Managing Link Gateways

LinkBank.net enables link gateways to be managed:

• Bulk upload • Email

notification of broken links

• Summaries of usage

• User "sort by" option

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See also JumpList.com

See also JumpList.com

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User FeedbackUser feedback can include voting systems, quizzes, etc.

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See <http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue23/web-focus/> and <http://ezpolls.mycomputer.com/>

See <http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue23/web-focus/> and <http://ezpolls.mycomputer.com/>

http://www.responders.net/http://www.responders.net/

See also <http://www.freepolls.com/>

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Ticket Booking ServiceThe Web site for booking tickets at the Moscow State Circus has an externally-hosted service for ticket bookings.

See <http://www.ts.com/>See <http://www.ts.com/>

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Notification ServicesYou can register a page at Netmind.

You will receive a message when the page is updated.

The Netmind service is used at Exploit Interactive to provide notification of a new issue.

The Netmind service is used at Exploit Interactive to provide notification of a new issue.

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Server Down - NotificationRecently the Exploit Interactive Web server crashed after a virus checker caused memory leaks.

Internetseer's free Website monitoring service is now used to check the site hourly.

Up to 230 URLs can be checked for free.

http://www.internetseer.com/http://www.internetseer.com/

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Submit-it ServicesRather than manually submitting key resources to many search engines you can:• Purchase and install

an application locally• Subscribe to a Web-

based service• Use a free Web-

based service

http://www.scrubtheweb.com/http://www.scrubtheweb.com/

http://www.submitit.com/http://www.submitit.com/

Exploit Interactive has used ScrubTheWeb – reviewed in issue 6

Exploit Interactive has used ScrubTheWeb – reviewed in issue 6

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Web Site EvaluationMany Web services are available which can be used for auditing and evaluating Web pages and Web sites

(See hands-on workshop)

http://www.linktool/.com/http://www.linktool/.com/

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Search Engines

Kendall and Perth and Kinross Libraries use Atomz, East Sussex County Library use FreeFind and Wolverhampton use HotBot

Kendall and Perth and Kinross Libraries use Atomz, East Sussex County Library use FreeFind and Wolverhampton use HotBot

The Hertfordshire Grid for Learning <http://www.thegrid.org.uk/> use Atomz and avoid branding problems

If you do not have a search facility, why not let a third-party index your Web site? All you need is a few lines of HTML

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CalendarsWhy bother with Outlook when you can get calendar facilities for free?

See also http://www.when.com/ & http://www.ft.com/personaloffice/

See also http://www.when.com/ & http://www.ft.com/personaloffice/

You can also add your own local news feeds

You can also add your own local news feeds

<http://my.netscape.com/> <http://my.netscape.com/>

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File Store

Your file store can be stored remotely

Note:

• Tools can integrate with Windows Explorer

• Growing interest in Storage Area Networks (SANs)

Note:

• Tools can integrate with Windows Explorer

• Growing interest in Storage Area Networks (SANs)

See <http://www.idrive.com/>See <http://www.idrive.com/>

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Content Free news feeds, classified ads, jokes, cartoons, quotations) can be included on your Web site

http://ezpolls.mycomputer.com/http://ezpolls.mycomputer.com/

http://notinmybackyard.com/http://notinmybackyard.com/

Get Guardian news feeds for free from <http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/free/>

Get Guardian news feeds for free from <http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/free/>

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Your Intranet

Why not host your Intranet remotely?

Intranets.com provide:• Document

management tools• Email capabilities• Group calendars• Instant messaging• …

As we’ve seen your WAP site can also be hosted remotely

As we’ve seen your WAP site can also be hosted remotely

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Content ManagementManilla is a Web-based content management tool.

You can buy the softwarefor $899 or use it for free at Editthispage.com

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Your Web SiteYou can use externally-hosted services to create and host your Web site

http://www.webnow.com/http://www.webnow.com/

http://www.bcentral.com/http://www.bcentral.com/

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IssuesMany externally-hosted web services are available, but:

• What about the dependencies of the network(s)?• What about the reliance of the third-party? Will

the company stay in business?• The interface isn't as rich as desktop applications• If the service is funded by advertising revenue,

with use contravene the AUPs and guidelines?• Will large-scale use of such services generate

large network bills?• Is my data secure and private?• Is my data reusable and available in an open

format?• Is is sensible for a mission-critical service?

Remember the WebTechs incident?Remember the WebTechs incident?

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RDN IncludeThe Resource Discovery Network Centre (RDNC) coordinates the work of RDN hubs, such as SOSIG, EEVL, BIOME, etc. Institutions may be reluctant to link to hubs as they want users to stay on the University Web site.

The RDNC is developing the RDN-I (Include) service to give the appearance that the hub is located within the institution.

The RDN will be providing an externally-hosted service

The RDN will be providing an externally-hosted service

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What About The Users?

"I use the external services because the University doesn't allow me access to install on the server and because it doesn't make any appropriate tools available."

Tom Wilson, Department of Information Studies,

University of Sheffield

"Our search facility is currently hosted by atomz.com , some calendering by Yahoo!, so I'm increasingly drawn to externally hosted solutions... more time to catch up on other, more pressing work, until they all stop working."

Ian Usher, Webmonger, Department of Geography, UCLAt one university 60% of UGs arrived with a HotMail account, which they used in preference to the University email account.

• Should the university support use of HotMail?• Can they afford not to?• What will happen when they arrive with a calendar service?

At one university 60% of UGs arrived with a HotMail account, which they used in preference to the University email account.

• Should the university support use of HotMail?• Can they afford not to?• What will happen when they arrive with a calendar service?

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ASP Application Service Providers (ASP):

• Commercial sector already moving in this direction

• Sun promote access to StarOffice across network in preference to MS Office on local PC

• Futurelink.net renting MS Office across network for £79 / month

Do I need an ASP?Useful if:

• You don’t have any in-house IT staff

• You need software for a fixed time

• You want your IT staff to concentrate on “competitive edge” projects

• You’re a small organisation with remote sites to support

• You want to try out software without buying it

• You prefer monthly rental to upfront hardware / software costs

Do I need an ASP?Useful if:

• You don’t have any in-house IT staff

• You need software for a fixed time

• You want your IT staff to concentrate on “competitive edge” projects

• You’re a small organisation with remote sites to support

• You want to try out software without buying it

• You prefer monthly rental to upfront hardware / software costs

Computer Weekly, 21 Sep

Further Information:

<http://www.aspcommunity.org/>

<http://www.aspindustry.org/>

<http://www.mi8.co.uk/>

<http://www.progress.com/>

Search Yahoo! for ASP

Further Information:

<http://www.aspcommunity.org/>

<http://www.aspindustry.org/>

<http://www.mi8.co.uk/>

<http://www.progress.com/>

Search Yahoo! for ASP

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Conclusions

Externally hosted web services:• Are available in many different areas• Arguments against their use (reliability, privacy, trust,

performance) should diminish as they mature• Their usability will improve as W3C developments

(DOM, XHTML, SVG) become more available• Your user community will use them (are using them)

in any case• Of particular interest to the public sector community? • Will we see a move towards use of Application

Service Providers (ASPs)? • A valuable resource for the Web Manager

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Any Questions?

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Useful URLs

Sorted Webmaster Tools Free Of Charge<http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/freeof.htm>

Linkcheckers and Site Maintenance Tools<http://www.unn.ac.uk/central/isd/links.htm>

Automated Web Testing<http://www.internetqa.com/>

All Things Web<http://pantos.org/atw/testing.html>

Web Site Analyst<http://www.website-analyst.co.il/>