Last update: 02/2004
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What is STATEL?
Objectives
How does it work?
Achievements
Who benefits?
The role of IDA
Technical information
Documentation
What is STATEL?
STATEL is multi-protocol file exchange software which fully integrates telecommunications and allows partners to exchange files and directories through a standardized Application Programming Interface (API), independent of the telecommunications protocol used. Developed by EUROSTAT under the IDA Programme, it is a tool that runs on PC and UNIX platforms.
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Objectives
Its main objective is to provide a transparent telecommunication layer (file transfers) to application developers.
In 2001, a study was launched on commercial alternatives to STATEL and on the costs of a possible migration. This study resulted in maintaining STATEL, which will be adapted to the latest IT environments. New functionalities and improved management tools will be added. Second level support to users, to STATEL developers and to software editors will be continued. In parallel to this, the membership of the data collection user group (DCUG), created in 2000 by the Commission services and agencies, has been enlarged to involve additional IDA sectors. Representatives from the Member State administrations were invited to a workshop in the second half of 2002. As a follow up DCUG activities, an IDA project eDFMS (electronic DataFlow Management System) has been launched in 2003. This project shall provide a generic solution in order to ensure a transparent, effective and reliable exchange of data flows using an advanced control system. eDFMS is based on the results of two sectoral projects from DSIS: EDIFLOW and STADIUM. Furthermore eDFMS is making use of STATEL.
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How does it work?
STATEL works by using a shared disk space between two communicating systems and offers an API to access the data in the shared space. This Virtual File System (VFS) behaves like a normal file system in that it contains files that are accessible to both parties.
The main STATEL characteristics are:
- Unique API with a multi-protocol ability (Kermit, FTP, mail),
- Automatic segmentation for big volume transfer, with automatic retransmission requests,
- Data encryption, protecting files content during transmission.
A new and simpler version of STATEL for users with limited hard disk space, STATEL 3.5, is now available. There is a new scheduler that allows the user to transmit data during non-working hours, thus enabling more efficient use of the available bandwidth. For a new user of STATEL, a STATEL nickname, SNN, is set up on a production server at EUROSTAT. The user is sent the STATEL installer program and needs only to run the executable file. The set-up of the STATEL software can be pre-configured for each individual user.
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Achievements
STATEL has been in operation for several years. EUROSTAT and DG Agriculture currently use it to collect data from Member State administrations.
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Who benefits?
Public Administrations: The direct beneficiaries of this project are the national administrations as well as the EU institutions. As this tool aims to make the gathering and exchange of information more efficient, it saves on costs and time.
Ultimately the final users - that is, EU citizens - will also feel the impact of this improved efficiency.
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The role of IDA
The role of IDA is to identify the needs of specific sectors and to provide the suitable advice and guidance as technology moves forward. In this way, IDA focuses on the strategic and fundamental issue of 'data collection'.
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Technical information
|
Project start date |
1995 |
|
Project completion date |
2005 |
|
Project status |
Operational |
|
IDA budget |
€ 1,428,000 |
|
Responsible service |
Eurostat |
|
Project coordinator |
Wolfgang Knüppel |
|
Contact |
idabc@ec.europa.eu |
|
Countries involved |
All EU Member States |
|
Public website |
http://www.statel.com/ |
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Documentation on STATEL
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