OpenCloudMesh Project Connects Private Research Clouds To Facilitate Collaboration
ownCloud has initiated a project that
connects private research clouds to facilitate collaboration, communication and
testing, while maintaining the security of those private clouds.
The project, called OpenCloudMesh, is a globally interconnected mesh of
research clouds that is built on ownCloud's open Server-to-Server Sharing
application programming interface (API), according to the
company. Universities and research organizations participating in the
OpenCloudMesh project can use the network to access files within their own
organization or those shared by other participating organizations. The files can be shared on internal servers; on object storage; in
applications like SharePoint or Jive; in other ownClouds; or in external cloud
systems such as Dropbox and Google.
"OpenCloudMesh gives each organization private cloud file sync and share,
while Server-to-Server Sharing enables safe sharing between those clouds," said
Frank Karlitschek, CTO and co-founder of ownCloud, in a prepared statement.
ownCloud will publish the first draft of the OpenCloudMesh API specification
early in 2015. "This open API ensures secure yet transparent connections between
remote on-premises cloud installations," stated a news release from the company.
Universities and research organizations that have already signed up to
participate in OpenCloudMesh include:
OpenCloudMesh is a joint international initiative under the umbrella of the
GÉANT Association, a pan-European research
and education network.
ownCloud invites all universities and research organizations to participate
in developing and refining the OpenCloudMesh API. Further information was not available at press time.
| Editor's note: This article has been modified since its original publication to update the list of participating institutions. (Jan. 30, 2015, 11:42 a.m.) — D.N. |
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].