Handle System Namespace and Service Definition

1
Handle System Namespace and Service Definition

• Sam X. Sun
• ssun_at_cnri.reston.va.us
• http//www.handle.net

2
Agenda

• Design Objective
• Namespace Definition
• Data Model
• Service Model
• Protocol Model
• Handle System and DNS
• Handle System and X.500/LDAP

3
HS Design Objective

• Uniqueness, Persistence, Extendable
• Scalable, Distributed Service Model
• Secured Name Service
• International Support
• Distributed Administration Service
• Efficient Resolution Service

4
HS Namespace

• Handle Syntax ltnaming authoritygt / ltlocal
  namegt where each NA represent a local
  namespace.
• Example 10.1045/january99-bearman
  cnri.test/my-test-handle

5
HS Data Model
Each handle can be assigned with a set of value
records, at least one of them defines its
administrator. For example,
cnri.test/my-test-handle
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Handle Value Record
Index identifies the value record type a UTF-8
string, registered as handle data handle data,
preceded by its length TTL relative/absolute perm
ission public read/write, admin
read/write timestamp for administration/caching
purpose reference list of handle value
references (for added credential)
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Handle Admin Record - HS_ADMIN
adminRef refer to another handle value
record adminPermission - add/delete naming
authority - add/delete handle -
add/delete/modify handle value -
add/delete/modify administrator
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Handle System Service Architecture
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HS Service Delegation
Global Handle Registry
Local Handle Service
Local Handle Service
...
(e.g. CNRI)
(e.g. ETSI)
Local Handle Service
(e.g. DOI)

• Global Service manages namespace registration in
  terms Naming Authority (NA).
• Local Service manages names under registered NAs.

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HS Service Distribution
A Handle Service (Global/Local) configuration
example
M a i n F r a i m
NT1
NT2
Sparc1
Sparc2
NT3
NT4
Site 2
Site 1
Site 3

• Service sites replicate each other for load
  balancing.
• Add more servers per site to support ever
  growing namespace.

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Service Definition HS_SITE Record
version identifies HS_SITE info
format serialNo identifies its data
version primaryMask primary/secondary/multi-primar
y hashOption by handle/local name/NA attributeLis
t description, ... ServerList list each
server at the site ltserverID, address, public
key, transmission protocol, port numbergt
...
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Handle Protocol Model

• Envelop Header Body Signature
• where
• envelop - defines version and other options
• header/body - requests/response data
• signature - covers header/body only

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Handle Protocol Model (cont.)

• Client queries the Global Handle Registry for
  responsible local handle service
• Global Handle Registry returns the service
  information, signed if required
• Client sends service request to the local handle
  service
• Local handle service sends response to client,
  performs authentication if necessary

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HS Authentication Protocol

• Client sends service request
• Server issues challenge if authentication is
  required
• Client returns response to the challenge plus the
  administrator reference
• Server perform request upon successful
  authentication

15
Handle System and DNS

• Different Naming Structure. (URL like)
• More scalable service model in terms of multiple
  servers for any service site.
• Access control model that allow distributed
  administration.
• Namespace I18N.
• Independent Name Service that will not conflict
  to network address translation.

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Handle System and X.500/LDAP

• Simple data model at any service site v.s.
  hierarchical data model used by X.500/LDAP.
• Simple/quick resolution service v.s. complicated
  search/query.
• May work together to compliment each other.

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References

• Handle System home page
• http//www.handle.net
• Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
• http//www.doi.org
• IETF drafts
• draft-sun-handle-system-03.txt
• draft-sun-handle-system-def-01.txt