Micro-services

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Archivematica architecture - May 2010

The Archivematica micro-services are based on the project's use case and workflow analysis of the ISO-OAIS functional model. Each service is available to a conceptual entity that is equivalent to an OAIS information package:

• Submission Information Package (SIP)
• Archival Information Package (AIP)
• Dissemination Information Package (DIP)

These packages are moved from one service to the next using the Unix pipeline design pattern implemented with a combination of Bash and Python scripts. Each service is provided by one or more of the open-source software utilities and applications bundled in the Archivematica system.

In early iterations of the Archivematica system, some of the workflow controls (e.g. event triggering, error reporting, etc.) are handled via the Thunar file manager (e.g. drag-and-drop, desktop notifications). As the system approaches beta maturity all of the micro-services workflow will be managed via a web-based Dashboard application.

Archivematica Micro-services

Micro-service	Description
Create SIP backup	Archivematica automatically creates a backup of the entire SIP as soon as it is ingested.
Verify SIP compliance	This micro-service verifies that the SIP conforms to the folder structure required for processing in Archivematica.
Assign file UUID and checksums	Each file in the SIP is assigned a universal unique identifer and a sha-1 checksum.
Verify metadata directory checksums	If the SIP contained a checksum.md5 file on ingest, Archivematica will check it to confirm that none of the files were deleted or altered on ingest.
Create DC	A Dublin Core xml template is added to the metadata folder in the SIP. The user can fill in fields as desired. The elements map to fields in ICA-AtoM when the DIP is uploaded.
Appraise SIP for submission	The archivist reviews the SIP, if desired, to confirm that it complies with any submission agreements. The archivist can delete unwanted files at this point; Archivematica will keep a log of the deleted files.
Quarantine	The SIP is placed in quarantine for a pre-set period of time. The archivist can move the SIP out of quarantine before the pre-set time has expired, if desired.
Extract packages	Files are extracted from any .zip files or other packages; each extracted file is assigned a universal unique identifier and a sha-1 checksum.
Sanitize file and directory names	Prohibited characters, such as spaces or ampersands, are removed from file and folder names and replaced with underscores.
Scan for viruses	ClamAV scans all files
Characterize and extract metadata	File formats are identified and the files validated against external format specifications. Technical metadata is extracted from the file.
Normalize	Archivematica creates a preservation copy and an access copy of each file. For more on normalization, see Media type preservation plans.
Compile METS file	Archivematica compiles a METS file with a complete set of PREMIS metadata for each ingested file. The technical metadata that were extracted during the "Characterize and extract metadata" micro-service are included in the PREMIS objectCharacteristicsExtension element.
Create AIP checksum	A checksum for all the contents of the AIP is generated.
Prepare AIP	The AIP is packaged using the Library of Congress Bagit specification.
Store AIP
Generate DIP
Upload DIP