

B2HANDLE
What is B2HANDLE
B2HANDLE is the distributed service for storing, managing and accessing persistent identifiers (PIDs) and essential metadata (PID records) as well as managing PID namespaces. The implementation of the service relies on the DONA/Handle persistent identifier solution. B2HANDLE can be used by middleware applications, end-user tools and other service to reliably identify data objects over longer timespans and through changes in object location or ownership. The B2HANDLE service encompasses management of identifier namespaces (Handle prefixes), establishment of policies and business workflows, operation of Handle servers and technical services, and a user-friendly Python library for general interaction with Handle servers and EUDAT-specific extensions. B2HANDLE is mostly transparent to end-users, shielding them from the complexity of infrastructure details. B2HANDLE supports a dedicated Handle record structure (a PID profile) for the safe data management within an infrastructure with a given topology.
Features
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Globally resolvable identifiers via the Global Handle Network (DONA, https://hdl.handle.net/)
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Communities and organisations can obtain Handle Prefixes (ePIC, 21.) for their own use
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PIDs can be hosted at EUDAT service providers
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B2HANDLE operates as a federation of EUDAT service providers based on policies
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PIDs are mirrored across multiple providers for high resolution and high availability
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Handle records can be customised to community and organisational needs (for example include checksums and timestamps to ensure authenticity of the data objects)
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Support for reverse look-ups of Handle records
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REST API for easy registration and minting of PIDs

- Target Users:
Research Infrastructure Managers, Research Managers, Researchers, Research Communities, Research Projects, Research Groups, Research Organisations, Providers - Access Types:
Virtual - Access Modes:
Paid - Tags:
persistent identifier handle
- Geographical Availabilities:
European Union - Languages:
English
- Related Resources:
- Platforms:
- Data Infrastructure Capacity for EOSC (DICE), EUDAT CDI
- Funding Bodies:
European Comission (EC) - Funding Programs:
The framework programme for research and innovation (H2020) - Grant Project Names:
DICE (101017207)
- EUDAT Secretariat
- Trl:
9 - ACTUAL SYSTEM PROVEN IN OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT - Life Cycle Status:
Production - Open Source Technologies:
Handle (http://handle.net/) - Version:
1.2


B2HANDLE is perfect for:
Core communities who want to establish the usage of persistent identifiers in their community and exploit B2HANDLE to enrich their specific applications with extra functionality and End-users who want to benefit from improved cross-community tools. If they employ the EUDAT service suite, they will also benefit indirectly from the B2HANDLE service.
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Resourse offers
For Researchers
PIDs are normally automatically minted at and within data management and data repository systems, for example via the EUDAT B2SHARE data repository service. Therefore, researchers in need of a Persistent Identifier for a data set can publish the data set via the B2SHARE service.
For Data Managers
B2HANDLE is the distributed service for minting, storing, managing, and accessing persistent identifiers (PIDs) and essential metadata (PID records) as well as managing PID namespaces. The B2HANDLE service allows Data Managers and Data Providers the registration and minting PIDs which can be integrated within Data Repositories and other Data Management platforms.
Technical Parameters
Number of Prefixes | 1 prefix - more than 3 prefixes |
Prefered service provider | GRNET, GWDG, SURF |
Number of PIDs | 100 PIDs - 1M PIDs |
Prefix
PIDs are comparable to the ISBN numbers assigned to books. A PID consists of a Prefix and a Suffix. The Prefix identifies the naming authority of the PIDs identified by the Prefix. The prefixes acquired via EUDAT are ePIC Handle Prefixes and are globally resolvable via the Handle.net Global Resolving Network. This offer does not include the PID Hosting service, the Prefixes need to be configured in a Handle service separately. If you require also PID hosting, please select the PID Hosting offer.
Technical Parameters
Number of Prefixes | 1 prefix - more than 3 prefixes |
PID Hosting
B2HANDLE is the distributed service for minting, storing, managing, and accessing persistent identifiers (PIDs) and essential metadata (PID records) as well as managing PID namespaces. The B2HANDLE PID Hosting allows Data Managers and Data Providers the registration and minting PIDs which can be integrated within Data Repositories and other Data Management platforms.
Technical Parameters
Number of Prefixes | 1 prefix - more than 3 prefixes |
Number PIDs/year | 100 PIDs - more than 1M PIDs |
Preferred provider | GRNET - Other |