SAXTA leverages the open source Grid and Peer-to-Peer JXTA™ technology for providing its core network infrastructure. Sponsored by Sun Microsystems®, Project JXTA provides a standard XML-based set of protocols as well as a JAVA™ reference implementation for the foundations of Peer- to-Peer and Grid Computing.

SAXTA: One software, 2 components

Saxta is comprised of 2 distinct node types assuming two different functions

• Super Nodes: Provide Resource Discovery, Communication and Synchronization Management as well access control. One Instance located at UMD. Other will be deployed to assure redundancy and scalability The Super Node Software Packaged as a Service.
  
• Data Nodes: Allow the metadata extraction, publication, search and download of Data. The software is packaged as a Servlet and runs within a Web Server. This is the node that is installed at each SAXTA participant site.

Component Interactions

The Saxta Data Node is packaged as a servlet and needs to be deployed onto a web server. That servlet wraps around the SAXTA Data Node Service, and provide the user with a Web Based user interface to use as well as manage the SAXTA Data Node Service.

The SAXTA Data Node Service is in charge of automatic metadata extraction, ingest, and publishing as well as metadata query, search, and data download.

The SuperNode Service manages security, group membership, authentication, resource discovery, and Indexing.

JXTA™ was selected because it has the following characteristics:

• Generalizes the Peer-to-Peer problem.
• Provides for Dynamic Resource Discovery
• Allows Interoperability and Ubiquity.
• Includes Platform Independence.
• Manages Network Security, Node Groups, Stability, Scalability and Node communication.
• Allows Virtual Network Overlay.