Arena 2.0:Administration
Arena administration
This article explains how to administer Arena. It explains only subjects that are not already explained in Liferay product literature.
Some of these articles explain aspects of Liferay administration relevant to this subject. To learn more about Liferay administration see the Liferay Portal Administrator's Guide 
.
- Arena and Liferay - Learn about Arena and Liferay
- Release notes - Notes about this version of Arena
- Login and logout - Learn how to login and logout
- Portlets - Learn how to administer portlets
- Screen layout - Learn how to configure the screen layout
- Page management - Learn how to manage and configure pages
- CSS Files - Learn about CSS files.
- ALMA - learn about ALMA
- Backup of Solr - Learn about backing up and restoring Solr.
Arena architecture
Arena provides a safe and interactive way for library members to access and use the library management system (LMS) catalogue, and to communicate with other library members through messages, reviews, recommendations and star ratings. It enables library members to perform tasks that previously required a visit to a library branch, or required the assistance of library staff. For example, users may now search the catalogue, locate a book or DVD that they like, and arrange a reservation for it.
To do all this, Arena has to be more than just a web application. For this reason, we chose to build it inside the Liferay environment. The block diagram (see right) shows the essential components of Arena.
LMS This is the Library Management System. As its name suggests, it is the software used to manage the library. It may work with one or several databases (catalogues), locally or countrywide. Typically the LMS is OpenGalaxy, but it could be any LMS software.
OO server This is an Object Oriented server, which is the environment in which the LMS resides.
ALMA This provides the interface between the LMS and Arena. It pairs related instructions from the LMS and Arena, so that instructions passed between the two systems are understood and acted upon correctly. A different ALMA is required for each different LMS. To learn more see About ALMA.
Liferay and Portlets Liferay is the software foundation of Arena. It provides the environment for small applications, known as portlets, to run. It includes a range of ready-made portlet, which perform many common tasks. Many other portlets have been written to provide Arena's features.
Arena local This is the core of Arena. It also provides the web interface with which library users interact.
Multi agency installation
Arena is not limited to working with just one library, museum or archive catalogue. It may work with any number and combination of them. Each library, museum or archive catalogue is managed by an LMS (Library Management System). Arena refers to each LMS as an agency. A library, museum or archive may be composed of many parts, such as locations, branches and departments. Arena refers to these as members. In other words, an agency may have any number of members. Arena uses portal sites to privide its users with easy access to all members and agencies.
