Phase I of the APTrust implementation will develop a preservation environment comprised of a repository for aggregated content and a replicating node for the Digital Preservation Network (DPN). This environment will:

• perform basic ingest and retrieval actions initiated by multiple institutions
• accept all content (initially just as mime-type “blobs”)
• provide geographically redundant back-up
• incorporate audit mechanisms
• allow administrative retrieval of content for disaster recovery
• interact with other replicating nodes in the DPN framework
• develop transport mechanisms for moving content between environments

The University of Virginia is responsible for Phase I development, which is slated for completion by December 2013. UVa is designing and building the Phase I components with the financial assistance and community support of the partner institutions.

Phase II

Once Phase I is completed, APTrust will shift from an “incubation” project to a fully-realized preservation environment that can be populated and extended by the entire community. Member institutions will be able to preserve content in the environment built in Phase I, based on business models determined by the partner community. Phase II development of the aggregate repository may include a range of enhancements such as hosted repository services, end-user access, format migration services, and other services desired by the partner community. In Phase II, we anticipate that APTrust will move out from under UVa’s wing and convert to a not-for-profit organization that is supported by the wider technical participation of the partner community.