Difference between revisions of "Introduction"

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==What is GNU EPrints?==
 
GNU EPrints is generic archive software under development by the University of Southampton. It is intended to create a highly configurable web-based archive.
 
  
GNU EPrints primary goal is to be set up as an open archive for research papers, and the default configuration reflects this, but it could be easily used for other things such as images, research data, audio archives - anything that can be stored digitally, but you'll have make more changes to the configuration.
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==What is EPrints?==
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EPrints 3.0 is generic repository building software developmented by the University of Southampton. It is intended to create a highly configurable web-based repository.
  
The system has been designed to encourage better quality data - that is to say accurate and unambiguous. Well defined metatdata can really help if you want to start exporting your archive data or making it interoperable with other systems.
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EPrints is often used as an open archive for research papers, and the default configuration reflects this, but it is also used for other things such as images, research data, audio archives - anything that can be stored digitally.
  
==Should I be installing EPrints 2, how much effort will it take?==
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==Should I be installing EPrints 3, how much effort will it take?==
This is version 2.3, it is considered ready for use. There are still some issues and bugs, but hopefully not too many or too major.
 
  
Setting up an archive may not (and should not) be a trivial task. The biggest single issue is actually deciding what you need and what policies the archive should have. As a first step we would suggest setting up a demonstration version using the default configuration and having your manager, or the committe who decide on what is needed, have a quick "play" with it and comment what features, data, colours should be changed, added or removed.
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Start by looking at http://demoprints3.eprints.org/ to get a feel for what the software does.  
  
Previous experience has been that the initial set-up and configuration is quite a bit of work if you have complex requirements. It should be very easy if the only part of the default configuration you want to change is the colour!
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You can get a vanilla install up and running quite easily, installation notes on the wiki should help you over any snags relating to your operating system. You'll need a UNIX-like machine (linux is good), and a root password is helpful.
  
We currently expect to release a few more versions of EPrints 2. We plan to make it as easy as possible to upgrade from earlier versions of EPrints 2.
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The task which will take longest is actually deciding what you want your repository to do (and not do). Many sites want to make significant customisations. EPrints creates a repository with a sensible default, but all our users want something slightly different.
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Installing and configuring the software isn't too hard, and we're working on admin tools to make it even easier.
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The time taken in running the archive day to day depends on your own policy. Do you want a very light touch on the data submitted or a formal review process on each item - that's up to you!
  
 
==What will it run on?==
 
==What will it run on?==
The EPrints software has been developed under GNU/Linux. It is intended to work on any GNU system. It may well work on other UNIX systems too. Other systems people have got EPrints up and running on include Solaris and MacOSX. There are no plans for a version to run under Microsoft Windows.
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We develop EPrints on Redhat Linux (both Fedora Core and Enterprise), but it is used on any number of Linux distributions, and other UNIX-like systems including OSX.
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EPrints doesn't require any unusal hardware. It's slightly easier to run on a dedicated machine, but that's not essential, and should not affect performance.
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Don't forget to budget for a backup system, your data is valuable!

Revision as of 15:32, 4 January 2007

What is EPrints?

EPrints 3.0 is generic repository building software developmented by the University of Southampton. It is intended to create a highly configurable web-based repository.

EPrints is often used as an open archive for research papers, and the default configuration reflects this, but it is also used for other things such as images, research data, audio archives - anything that can be stored digitally.

Should I be installing EPrints 3, how much effort will it take?

Start by looking at http://demoprints3.eprints.org/ to get a feel for what the software does.

You can get a vanilla install up and running quite easily, installation notes on the wiki should help you over any snags relating to your operating system. You'll need a UNIX-like machine (linux is good), and a root password is helpful.

The task which will take longest is actually deciding what you want your repository to do (and not do). Many sites want to make significant customisations. EPrints creates a repository with a sensible default, but all our users want something slightly different.

Installing and configuring the software isn't too hard, and we're working on admin tools to make it even easier.

The time taken in running the archive day to day depends on your own policy. Do you want a very light touch on the data submitted or a formal review process on each item - that's up to you!

What will it run on?

We develop EPrints on Redhat Linux (both Fedora Core and Enterprise), but it is used on any number of Linux distributions, and other UNIX-like systems including OSX.

EPrints doesn't require any unusal hardware. It's slightly easier to run on a dedicated machine, but that's not essential, and should not affect performance.

Don't forget to budget for a backup system, your data is valuable!