[Dspace-general] setting up a DSPace server

[Eric Loehr]

Hello all,

We currently subscribe to a NITLE hosted DSpace instance and are considering whether we might want to/be able to run our own DSpace server locally. We're going to need more disk space than would be cost-effective from the hosted service, and would like more control over things.    I'm about to talk with our campus IT folks about this and would like to be able to tell them what sort of help from them and/or expertise we'd need to set up and run our own server, so I'm hoping to get some answers to a few questions: 

I think we'd prefer to go with a unix server, but could consider a Windows box.   I can do some basic things in unix (I've worked with permissions on html files, editing config files, templates, setting up chron jobs, etc.on our SFX, Verde, and ALEPH hosted servers ), but have never run a unix server.  

Can DSpace run easily alongside other applications on a server, or does it need its own dedicated server?

How difficult is it to set up DSpace on a unix (or Windows) server? What knowledge would be needed beyond what I described above?

How much, if any, java programming experience is essential? (I've done lots of html editing and some very basic PHP and javascript, but I'm not a programmer).

Once DSpace is set up, how much work is necessary to keep it updated?

What I'm hoping is that our IT folks can help set up the server and the DSpace installation and maintain the server OS, and that I can do the DSpace maintenance. Any recommendations and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks very much - - 

Eric





Eric Loehr
Library Systems Manager
Smith College Libraries
(413) 585-2969
eloehr at email.smith.edu

Smith College official correspondence