Indian Plasma Physics Preprint Server

A Simple (and new) Web Address for IPPPServer

2010-11-16T04:57:00.000-08:00

IPPPServer can now be reach with a simple and easy to remember web address, http://ipppserver.org .
The server may also be accessed with its previous web address.

IPPPServer link on the PSSI Web page

2010-02-18T22:38:00.000-08:00

We thank Plasma Science Society of India (PSSI) for providing an introduction and a direct weblink to the to Indian Plasma Physics Preprint Server (IPPPS) on their web page. We welcome PSSI members, and encourage them to share their work on the server.

Indian Plasma Physics Preprint Server (Alpha) is up & running.

2010-01-13T01:22:00.000-08:00

Now it's almost two weeks that Indian_Plasma_Physics Preprint Server (Alpha) is up and running at web address http://ipppserver.homelinux.org:8080 . It still need tuning and many upgrades but it's a good start.

Currently the list of 'Division' and 'subjects' are condensed and limited. These lists will certainly expand and grow as more and more submission will be added to the repository. Users are requested to send their suggestions to Administrator.

As per repository policies, submitted eprints are vetted only for valid layout & format, and the exclusion of spam. The validity and authenticity of the content of submissions is the sole responsibility of the depositor.

You can not only contribute by uploading your work in plasma science to the repository, but also volunteer with us.

Let us know your experiences with the repository and suggestions.

Articles on Open Access initiative in Developing Countries

2006-05-07T23:33:00.000-07:00

India's march towards open access

by Subbiah Arunachalam (distinguished fellow at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, India)

Open Access Archiving: the fast track to building research capacity in developing countries

An in depth article on Open Access Archiving need for developing countries.

The future of scholarly publishing, Current Science, 84(7), 10 April 2003, pp873-4

A commentary by John Willinsky, Department of Language and Literacy Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Running the eprints server.......first time.

2006-05-02T23:42:00.000-07:00

Seems that there was couple of reasons for server to not work, even after the complete installation. First issue was related to the SELiinux (Security Enhanced Linux in Fedora and RedHat). It took some time to figure out and understand this. As eprints server keep the files in a directory (/opt/…) other than usual path of http files, SELinux do not give it access by default. Just to check this we disabled the SELinux temporarily. This allowed starting the apache server properly. And now we can access the server using https (secure link, as we configured the eprints to use https). Great…

Although server started working using https link, most of the links on the web page were in http, which was restricting the smooth access of site. We realized it was easier to make http working, compared to converting everything to https. With the help of internet search, we did some appropriate changes in apache configuration file to run the http (80). After reconfiguring the eprints server for port 80, we got THE EPRINTS SEVER RUNNING on a http address (finally!).

Later, we applied the required SELinux authorizations to web directories of eprints and enabled the SELinux. We still need to check the SELinux issues in depth. But we will do it only if we run in to problem again or get some volunteer to do it ;)

(Monday, April 24, 2006)

Eprints Server Installation

2006-05-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

Even before start installing eprints server, our apache web server was connecting using https (secure connection) but not usual http connection. And yes we have open the port for both ssh and http(80) in out DSL modem firewall. Anyway, rather than solving this problem first, we decided to go ahead with the eprints sever installation on https. Decision was to try to solve http problem only when preprints server will refused to work on https. Moreover, if it works on https, it may my be more secure.

We started installing the eprints server by following the instructions given on the documentation page. As expected, things did not go smoothly. Initially, we got some error due to some missing perl modules. Later we faced the major problem due to some administrative configuration in MySQL database. Unfortunately, eprints documentation do not talk about it and sort of assume that the setting up compatible error free MySQl server is already been done by someone. Most of the day just went away in figuring out the communication issues between eprints server and MySQL server and learning new things about MySQL. Anyway, just before we were about to end the day, things start going smoothly and we went ahead with installation of eprints server. In fact, we were able to create an account also, however only for administrator.

Although, installation was complete and as per assumption there should be a working web site for the server, but there was nothing. Mainly because the apache web server was not able to (re)start.

We decided to stop here for the day.

(Sunday, April 23, 2006 )

Domain name with Dynamic IP

2006-04-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

We decided to use the existing DSL internet connection at home for the prototype IPPP server. Our initial test shows that this should be ok for the experimental server, where (hopefully) load will be quite low.

The problem with our present DSL connection is that the IP address it provides to the host computer is dynamic. Or in other words, IP address will change with time, depending upon various things. It means the server’s domain name can not point to a fix (static) IP address. We had option of buy a static IP address from our internet provider, which is considerably expensive. However, we decided to stick with dynamic IP address for prototype version on IPPPServer. And to resolve the issue of using the same domain name with dynamic IP we are using a web service/tool that keep track of the changing IP address and keep updating the domain name server with the changing IP address.

We have activated the service and installed the IP tracking/updating script on our server compute. It seems to be running fine since around 1-2 weeks. So now we have a fixed domain name that (probably) always direct to IPPP sever. We have not done or not planning to do any rigorous testing until it ran in a serious problem.

Linux installation hurdle

2006-04-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

After Saji offered his desktop, and even installed a new ~150 GB hard disk, to be used as the server, starting of the installation was slow and bumpy. To begin (according to eprint software Prerequisites) we need to install and configure...

- Linux distribution (preferably RedHat)

- Perl with a number of 3rd party Perl Modules

- Apache Web Server

- MySQL database

- Latex, wget, lynx, pdftotext, wvtext, etc.

….and then the eprint software.

Anyone who has worked with linux knows that how things work in real life. We were sure that installation will run into problem, and will take order of magnitude more time compared to that of projected by 'How To's and manuals. Unfortunately, we were right.

On first day, virtually every linux installed boot-cd (of around 5-7 different distributions) refused to boot the linux on this desktop, which was running the WindowsXP without any problem. There was not even a hint about what is wrong. To get some direction, we tried hundred things and reached to the limit of reformatting the full hard drive (using alternate method) and even physically disconnected the hard drive and other devices. No luck. After spending full day we finally learn (don’t know how!) that we must give the option ‘acpi off’ in boot option.

Still RedHat will not work, but we agreed to go ahead with Fedora 5.

Indian Plasma Physics Preprint Server Project---Initiation

2006-04-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

After floating the idea during APS-DPP 2004 meeting, we finally start crawling toward the possibility of Indian Plasma Physics Preprint Server. Thanks to the enormous support by the Group member Saji Jacob (sjkalari).

Present goal is to set up a demonstrative or prototype version of the server. This is mainly due to current volunteers’ lack of technical and managerial skills. Of course, we are also short in money and volunteers strength. Hope is that with this small step we will learn a lot about the practical issues with such servers, including the estimation of resources required for the next step and step after that. Infact, this will help us to decide the next steps.

As the intention from the beginning is that this should be a community project (i.e., by the community, for the community…), a feedback and support from the community is must. I believe, plasma_physics_india group’s contribution in this project will be vital. I also think that the server project can be a major contribution by this relatively small group to the group itself and overall Indian plasma community.

The blog http://ipppserver.blogspot.com/ will try to provide regular update about the sever project. This will also provide a platform, other than plasma_physics_india group page, to discuss the specific issues on the project.

Due to its open nature, currently every aspect—I repeat, every aspect-- of the server project is open for discussion. Other than ideas, currently we also need volunteers.

And, starts collecting your preprints, we will need these in large numbers.

What, Why and How?

2006-04-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

Q. What is Indian Plasma Physics Preprint Server (IPPPS) ?

It will be an eprint Server, based on OPEN ACCESS Initiative, dedicated to the Research & Development in the field of Plasma Physics and related topics. This will be a community supported server.

Server will be open to all, targeting but not restricted to the people of Indian origin, working in India and around the world, who wish to archive their work at IPPPS.

The idea is very similar to the arXiv.org e-Print archive, CERN Document Server and other hundreds of eprint servers. However serving the specific needs of plasma physics community of Indian origin and India (and probably other developing countries).

We would love to expand its scope to all area of physics, and possibly science for India, but to start let's KISS (keeping it simple and small).

Q. What is an Open Access Initiative (OAI) ? E-print Server ?

The Budapest Open Access Initiative(OAI) is an effort to make research articles in all academic fields freely available on the Internet.

OAI is a fast and effectively way to share your scientific work (refereed/non-refereed) with a large number of researchers and technologist, without forcing them to subscribe the costly journals/publications. Of course you (the authors) also don't pay anything to 'publish' the work. Moreover, as many think, the people should not pay to learn about the research funded by their own (public) money.

There is enormous amount of literature on Open Access movement. Here is few links, and please follow the links therein.
http://www.soros.org/openaccess/read.shtml (Budapest Open Access Initiative)
http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/fosblog.html (Open Access News )
http://www.eprints.org/openaccess/ (eprints.org)

To put it again, a cut/paste from (http://www.eprints.org/self-faq/#purpose-self-archiving) site:

"The purpose is....to make.....research output of scholars/scientists and their institutions visible, accessible, harvestable, searchable and useable by any potential user with access to the Internet. The purpose of thus maximizing public access to research findings online is that this in turn maximizes its visibility, usage and impact -- which in turn not only maximizes its benefits to researchers and their institution in terms of prestige, prizes, salary, and grant revenue but it also maximizes its benefits to research itself (and hence to the society that funds it) in terms of research dissemination, application and growth, hence research productivity and progress. This is why open access is both optimal and inevitable."

E-print Server is the way to make all this possible. In very low cost and maintenance. See: http://www.eprints.org/ and: http://software.eprints.org/

Q. Why an Indian Plasma Physics Server ?

Indian Plasma Physics Preprint Server...

Will serve as a single, centerlised source of work (published/unpublished) in plasma physics, serving Indian need.
Will serve a single place to access the PhD and masters thesis work done by the people of Indian origin.
Will provide a better exposure of work done by Indian in the field of plasma physics.
Will provide the researchers located in small university and laboratory a free, fast and easy access to the international level work.
Will also help these researcher to quickly and efficiently distribute their work.
Will help fastly spread the new development in experimental, analytical, numerical techniques in India.
Will expose to researchers and industrialists of similar and diverse field.
Will help in forming a networking of people and ideas to further develop science and technology in India.
Can be used to keep and distribute the tutorial and other teaching material of plasma sciences.
May serve/get some benefit for/from the Indian participant in the international fusion experiment, ITER.

Q. What is needed ?

Hardware :
-- Unix/Linux based machine with Internet connection.

Software:
-- Apatch, Perl and Eprints-software

Money:
-- For Server/Hardware/Internet -- (Do you have IT?)
-- For Software -- None.

Maintainaces ?
Volunteer --- (Are YOU ready ?)

Q. Who will do it ?

A decently large community of people interested and working in plasma physics has come together in the form of "Plasma Physics India Yahoo Group". Many of these people has shown a strong interest in the server. We believe, this group will provide a good volunteer and monetary support.

Q. Whome to Contact ?

Please do write us your Questions/Comment. You are more than welcome to contribute your time/knowledge/money to the effort. You may contact Deepak by email dpk011(at)yahoo(dot)com. As our volunteers base will increase we will have different people for specific task.

Disclaimer: All the views above are completely based on my own understanding of the project. This do not formally define the goals or path for the project. I believe, the project's journey will a dynamic one, and will follow the path which will be decided democratically by the volunteers and users of the project. ---Deepak