Middleware is software that manages the interaction between an applications program and other software or the network. Within this large field, the Internet2 Middleware Initiative has focused on developing an interoperable Identity and Access Management infrastructure for Research and Education. Critical for security and collaboration, the Initiative’s Identity and Access Management work includes a related model, tools, roadmaps, software, practices, standards, and education to help the community simplify the management of access to services, implement policy, increase security, and streamline operations.
Since 2001, the Internet2 Middleware Initiative has led the technical activities of the NSF Middleware Initiative - Enterprise and Desktop Integration Technologies Consortium (NMI-EDIT) of Internet2 and EDUCAUSE to build and promulgate this interoperable infrastructure.
For a list of related sites, see the Internet2 Middleware Initative Directory.
Get Involved!
The following working groups, services, and projects are sponsored by the Internet2 Middleware Initiative: There are a number of ways that members can participate in the Internet2 community.
- Identity & Access Management Model
[Info Sheet] - Grouper Groups Management Working Group
[Info Sheet]
- Signet Privilege Management Working Group
[Info Sheet]
- Shibboleth Single Sign-on and Federating Software
[Info Sheet] - Higher Education PKI
Technical Activities Group (HEPKI-TAG)
- COmanage Collaborative Management Platform
- MACE-Directory Working Group
- InCommon Federation
- U.S. Higher Education Root Certificate Authority (USHER)
[InfoSheet]
Upcoming Events
- Fall 2008 Internet2 Member Meeting
October 13 - 16, 2008 New Orleans, LA - EDUCAUSE 2008
October 28-31, 2008, Orlando, FL
News
- Signet v1.3.0 Released (July 17, 2008)
- InCommon Provides Online Identity Management Platform for Microsoft DreamSpark Program (May 20, 2008)
- Internet2 and EDUCAUSE Awarded NSF Grant to Develop Collaboration Tools (February 1, 2008)
Recent Publications & Presentations
- Proceedings available now from Advanced Camp: Registering, Discovering, and Using Distributed Services in Academia
- Proceedings available now from CAMP: Bridging Security and Identity Management
- Grouper Groups Management Toolkit Case Studies:
Brown University and Duke University
- “Internet Scale Identity, Collaboration and Research & Education” Ken Klingenstein and RL Bob Morgan
[PDF] [Video]
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Partnering with the Internet2 Middleware Initiative since 1998, the Middleware Architecture Committee for Education (MACE) has provided the primary direction and development guidance. Consisting of a group of US and international higher-education IT architects, MACE provides oversight, while the community at large sets requirements, develops, and provides outreach. For more information on how to get involved, refer to the box to the left.
For more information, contact: i2mi-info AT internet2 DOT edu
For periodic updates about topics related to Internet2 Middleware, you can subscribe to the middleware-announce@internet2.edu mailing list. To subscribe, send e-mail to sympa AT internet2 DOT edu with the following in the SUBJECT LINE:
subscribe mw-announce FirstName LastName
E.g.:
subscribe mw-announce Jane Doe
