Resource Joining
Joining Resources to the NGS
The core of the NGS is the resources that the community of users are able to access.
Resources Exchanging Membership
This section details the requirements for a resource provider to become a resource exchanging member of the NGS.
There are two distinct ways for resource providers to join the NGS, either as an NGS partner, or as an NGS affiliate. Both partners and affiliates run NGS compatible software, and integrate monitoring and support arrangements with the NGS. Partners also contribute significant resources to NGS users at large. A partner must also complete a Service Level Description document which defines what they provide to the user community. More information is available in the NGS Service Description Document (PDF).
Prerequisites
A prerequisite for joining as a member site is that your institution has access to a Registration Authority of the UK e-Science Certificate Authority. Information about setting up a Registration Authority for the UK e-Science CA is available here
Quick Start Guide
There is a Quickstart guide (PDF) to the Joining process which outlines the procedure.
Joining Guide
The NGS Joining Procedure (PDF) is a document that outlines the process required for a resource provider to become an NGS member. If you wish to register your interest in becoming an NGS partner or affiliate, please fill in the site application form.
Software Stack
To become a member of the NGS, sites are expected to install services that aggregate to a profile as per the definitions within the NGS Software Stack.
This covers aspects such as middleware, compilers and libraries. Further details about the service components that make up the NGS Software Stack can be found here.
Testing Procedure
NGS conformance testing is performed by the NGS Inca framework. There is a conformance test script tarball available on the Inca Conformance page.
Service Level Description
Each NGS partner must provide a Service Level Description (SLD) which defines what resources are being added to the NGS, which site services profile is being used to allow connection and which community is being supported. the site specific SLD is an appendix to the common SLD listed below.
NGS Site Level Services
For further information on the NGS software stack, please refer to the NGS Site Level Services reference document.