LionShare

LionShare promises secure file-sharing capabilities for the easy exchange of image collections, video archives, large data collections, and other types of academic information. In addition to authenticated file-sharing capabilities, LionShare will also provide users with resources for organizing, storing, and retrieving digital files. By using Peer to Peer (P2P) technology and incorporating features such as authentication, directory servers, and owner controlled sharing of files.

Currently, many academic digital collections remain "hidden" or difficult to access on the Internet. Through the use of LionShare, users will be able to find and access these information reservoirs in a more timely and direct manner — employing one rather than multiple searches. LionShare will also provide users with tools to catalog and organize personal files for easier retrievals and enhanced sharing capabilities. The LionShare project began as an experimental software development project at Penn State University to assist faculty with digital file management.

The project has now grown to be a collaborative effort between Penn State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Open Knowledge Initiative, researchers at Simon Fraser University, and the Internet2 P2P Working Group. A generous grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will be used to fund the first two years of the project.

The features of LionShare inlcude:

• LionShare builds on average peer-to-peer technology to include all the personal file-sharing capabilities of Kazaa and Gnutella, plus adds the novel features of authentication, access control, and permanent "continually on" storage space
• LionShare is unique in providing access to both centralized databases of academic institutions and groups, and users' personal files with only one search query
• Includes a permanent storage space for selected personal files to be shared even when the user is not logged on, increasing accessibility and convenience
• Seamless trust fabric established between institutions allows a user logged on at one institution to be able to access the resources from all partner institutions in a secure, safe manner through the controlled authentication process.
• Users are given the authority to chose which files they would like to share with digital community and specify with whom
• Great for limiting access due to copyright considerations 
• Provides many easy-to-use options for users to organize their own collections which in turn makes sharing with others easier
• Users can easily organize and refine the descriptions of files to be shared, so that keywords, headings and collection information will identify and organize shared files
• Built-in support for different file types, slideshows and easy labeling features assist users every step of the sharing and organizing process 
• Collaborative tools will facilitate the joint efforts of user defined groups
• Users can create chatrooms and bulletin boards for user defined groups, helping to keep all contributing parties informed and organized
• The exchange of information between institutions will be facilitated by pre-existing, federated network support

LionShare peer to peer now works on all available operating systems including

• Windows XP
• Linux
• Mac OSX
• Requires Java to run.