JA-SIG BOF

Owned by Adam Rybicki (Deactivated)
Last updated: Oct 10, 2008Version comment
2 min read

Overview

Several folks got together during Tuesday lunch at the Spring 2008 JA-SIG conference to discuss what has been done to integrate Banner with uPortal.

When it comes to defining "integration" in this context, it can mean one or a combination of the following:

  • Single Sign-On between uPortal and Banner Self-Service
  • uPortal presenting some Banner data in a "native" channel or portlet
  • uPortal presenting direct links (deep linking) into specific Banner Self-Service screens
  • Install the channels listed here

Single Sign-On

Single Sign-On using CAS has been done successfully in the past. Because nobody at the table knew of existing documentation, it seemed that schools have been re-inventing this. One of the goals of this Wiki space is to collect documentation about how to CAS-enable Banner Self-Service and make it easier for future adopters.

Data Integration

This can be done in at least two ways. One is by calling the Banner stored procedures from Java and presenting the results in a uPortal channel or portlet. At least one of the discussion participants indicated that these stored procedures, or APIs, are documented by Sungard.

Another method of data integration is by using the integration toolkit branded by Sungard as Luminis Data Integration Suite. This suite is based on messaging and uses the open source OpenEAI as its base. The licensing of this toolkit is not well understood, but the discussion participants thought that Luminis portal license is not required. University of Illinois uses this method of integrating Banner data with its portal.

Deep linking

This option was regarded during the discussion as a possible way of presenting the portal users, most often students, with a streamlined navigation to the specific Banner Self-Service screens. It wasn't clear how this could be achieved, and it was obvious that Single Sign-On would be required. The consensus at the discussion, however, was that it was an option worth experimenting with because of its relative ease of development as contrasted to the data integration options above.

Use channels from Sungard

Having this as an option was a surprise to most of the discussion's participants. Western Washington University has had some level of success with this, and perhaps with time it will be willing to share its experience and a "recipe" to achieve this.