About MIDS

The Name | The Components | MIDS vs MDS

MIDS - The Name

"MIDS" decodes either to "Monash Integrated Directory Service" or "Monash Internal Directory Service" depending on the context.

"Monash Integrated Directory Service" is the general name for the system and all its facets.

"Monash Internal Directory Service" is the specific name for the website that provides authorised staff with access to internal telephone directory information.

The MIDS name, in all its contexts, has been deliberately chosen to signal that:

MIDS is not separate from MDS (the Monash Directory Service). Indeed, MDS has always drawn one of its primary data feeds from the Telephone Directory. And now MDS continues to draw one of its primary data feeds from MIDS-DB.
MIDS is part of a convergence strategy which in the fullness of time will see the linking or integration of various databases, e.g. MIDS, MDS and SAP-HR and the convergence of various directory clients, e.g. MIDS, Web Staff Search and Portal Staff Search.

MIDS - The Components

MIDS-DB	MIDS DataBase: An open-source SQL database, replacing its predecessor the superseded "MNT" proprietary Access2 database. MIDS-DB provides the "on-line telephone directory" service element specified at the Telephone Service Statement.

MIDS-Client	A general purpose client for access to the internal telephone directory: A web-based client, replacing its predecessor, the Novell4-specific "TelDir" application. MIDS Client provides the "personal computer telephone directory application" service element specified at the Telephone Service Statement.

MIDS-Edit	A special purpose data-entry client for authorised administrative staff to change information in MIDS-DB.

MIDS-OE	MIDS Organizational Entity database: A very important part of MIDS-DB that stores information about the University's departments and other entities and their organizational structure and hierarchy. Already this area of the database links to various other databases, billing systems and applications.

MIDS-OT	A special purpose client, integrated with the PABX switchboard consoles, for switchboard operator staff use.

What's the difference between MIDS and MDS?

MIDS

The MIDS database is the primary source for some types of information, in particular about departments (and other entities) and about telephone services (and related information).

The MIDS project is a collection of initiatives to integrate, link and/or converge various databases, database elements and applications, such as directory search engines and billing systems.

In the future the MIDS Client will become the new converged directory search client.

MDS

MDS (Monash Directory Service) gathers information from many databases and republishes directory information to many applications (e.g. email, calendar, portal, IBQMS to name just a few) using standard interface protocols (in particular SQL and LDAP).

MDS is the central location that applications can go to, to access directory and related information for a wide range of purposes (eg: for authentication).