Roadmap

HIFIS Overall

HIFIS Conference

The first conference on HIFIS took place at DESY Hamburg.

Software Services

Initial launch of software.hifis.net

The platform software.hifis.net is launched as the future home for software development services within Helmholtz and HIFIS. The static site is built with Jekyll. Its sources are available on GitLab. Feel free to build upon it.

Software Services

Initial training of Carpentries Instructors

In preparation of providing Helmholtz-wide training events 12 Carpentries instructors are trained as part of the membership of the HZDR and GFZ in the Carpentries.

Software Services

Start of Helmholtz-wide training events

The first Helmholtz-wide training events are conducted. Read the announcement post for information on how the initial course portfolio will look like.

HIFIS Overall

Reporting for the first year of HIFIS

The first steps, progress and ongoing works of HIFIS Cloud, Backbone, and Software Clusters have been reported in the first annual report of HIFIS. This report has been improved and approved by the ICT Federation Board and further served as a basis for feedback by the Scientific Advisory Board in April.

HIFIS Overall

First meeting of HIFIS Scientific Advisory Board

The HIFIS Scientific Advisory Board gathered in a video conference to discuss the progress of HIFIS and provide advice. Comments and suggestions were compiled in a comprehensive report.

Cloud Services

First iteration of service selection completed

From June 2019 to May 2020, a service survey throughout all 19 Helmholtz centres has been conducted. The target of this survey was to determine which services are desired to be offered as services in HIFIS. A second target was to identify which centres are willing to act as service providers for the services to be offered in the Helmholtz Cloud.

Software Services

Launch of the HIFIS Software Helpdesk

In preparation of the launch of the Consulting Services the HIFIS Software helpdesk has been launched basing on Zammad. Therefore, a reusable Ansible role has been implemented.

Backbone Services

Start of Helmholtz AAI

The blueprint for the new official Helmholtz-wide Authentication and Authorization Infrastructure (Helmholtz AAI), derived from former HDF AAI, is online and available for services and identity providers. It is drafted by FZJ and KIT, and is compatible to the AARC blueprint.

Backbone Services

Service Agreement on Helmholtz Backbone

HIFIS fostered a service agreement with the German National Research and Education Network (DFN) on operating a a Helmholtz-wide Virtual Private Network (Helmholtz Backbone), covering the majority of Helmholtz centres. By September, the contract is expected to be signed from the participating partners.

HIFIS Overall

Start of HIFIS Helpdesk

A common contact point for all queries and support requests shall be introduced. This will be realized using a ticketing system, allowing to distribute tasks related to the different HIFIS clusters, especially Cloud Services and Software Services.

Software Services

Launch of the HIFIS Software Consulting Services

HIFIS Software offers free-of-charge consulting as a service to research groups within the Helmholtz umbrella. We can help you deal with specific licensing issues, migrating code between different environments and languages, setting up new projects, and other problems that you need to solve.

Request consulting.

Cloud Services

Announcement of initial Helmholtz Cloud Service Portfolio

After multiple iterations, the first set of selected federated services, forming the initial Helmholtz Cloud Service Portfolio, will be announced and started to be integrated. This set will be continuously enhanced and the performance of the integrated services will be monitored.

HIFIS Overall

HIFIS Meeting

A meeting of all HIFIS members is planned to foster collaboration between the HIFIS clusters. Non-HIFIS Helmholtz-centres as well as all incubator platforms shall be incorporated.

Software Services

Reusable Ansible recipes for a scalable GitLab instance

The future software management platform will be based on reusable Ansible recipes. This allows other research centers to reuse the implemented solution. The open-source recipes are publicly available on gitlab.com/hifis/ansible.

Cloud Services

Kickoff for the Integration of the initial Services

Having finished the list of the initial service portfolio, the integration of the services will start. At first, the exact details of each service and its tasks for service integration will be examined. This goes hand in hand with the first integration steps. It will also result in a specific roadmap to be established by the end of the year.

Software Services

Integrate the Software Management Platform into the Helmholtz Cloud

The software management platform is planned to be integrated into the Helmholtz Cloud as soon as the technical platform is available. Continuous Integration will be part of the software management platform from the very beginning.

Recipes for a Scalable CI solution

One important element of the software management platform is a solution for continuous integration (CI). Reusable Ansible recipes for a GitLab CI infrastructure will be provided. The Ansible role is developed here.

Backbone Services

Set-up of Helmholtz Backbone Connections

First Virtual Private Network (Helmholtz Backbone) connections have been set up and are in productive use.

Cloud Services

Top 10 of future Helmholtz Cloud Services

We are happy to announce that the group of the 10 most mature services has reached a maturity level of more than 80% - more than sufficient for them to be integrated into the Cloud Portal in the coming weeks. This top group includes services like GitLab (HZDR, FZJ), Nextcloud (HZB, KIT), Mattermost (HZDR), Rocket.Chat (FZJ) but also OpenStack (FZJ, KIT), JupyterHub (FZJ), Zammad (HZDR) and B2Share (FZJ).

Find more information of Initial Service Portfolio here.

Cloud Services

Beta Version of Helmholtz Cloud Portal online

The Helmholtz Cloud Portal allows harmonized access to all Helmholtz Cloud services. It contains all necessary information to access the available services. The alpha version of the portal is planned to be available by end 2020 and the publicly accessible beta version is planned for February 2021.

HIFIS Overall

Finish reporting for the first two years of HIFIS

After the ramp-up phase during the first year, the initial Cloud, Backbone and Software Services are expected to be in production by early 2021. We will report on the integration progress and impact of these services, especially with respect to user acceptance and added value for the scientific community.

Cloud Services

Start evaluation of further Services

While the integration of the initial service portfolio will continue, the evaluation of further services will start. This process will presumably involve the review of service selection criteria, focusing on service usage and optimal user experience.

Cloud Services

Cloud Service Process Manual

The cloud service portfolio process framework will be agreed upon and will be used for the maintenance and further strengthening of the service portfolio.

Cloud Services

Review of Initial Cloud Service Portfolio

The initial set of cloud services will be reviewed. The results will enter the annual HIFIS report and further service portfolio maintenance.

Roadmap

2019

October 2019

HIFIS Conference

December 2019

Initial launch of software.hifis.net

2020

January 2020

Initial training of Carpentries Instructors

March 2020

Start of Helmholtz-wide training events

Reporting for the first year of HIFIS

April 2020

First meeting of HIFIS Scientific Advisory Board

May 2020

First iteration of service selection completed

June 2020

Launch of the HIFIS Software Helpdesk

August 2020

Start of Helmholtz AAI

September 2020

Service Agreement on Helmholtz Backbone

Start of HIFIS Helpdesk

Launch of the HIFIS Software Consulting Services

October 2020

Announcement of initial Helmholtz Cloud Service Portfolio

HIFIS Meeting

Reusable Ansible recipes for a scalable GitLab instance

Kickoff for the Integration of the initial Services

November 2020

Integrate the Software Management Platform into the Helmholtz Cloud

Recipes for a Scalable CI solution

2021

January 2021

Set-up of Helmholtz Backbone Connections

Top 10 of future Helmholtz Cloud Services

February 2021

Beta Version of Helmholtz Cloud Portal online

March 2021

Finish reporting for the first two years of HIFIS

April 2021

Start evaluation of further Services

December 2021

Cloud Service Process Manual

2022

January 2022

Review of Initial Cloud Service Portfolio