YAZ proxy installation to enhance Z39.50 server performance

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to promote the usage of an open‐source gateway product that will enhance the functionality of a Z39.50 server that is maintained by a third‐party vendor.

Design/methodology/approach

The required functionality improvements, needed by the LC Z39.50 server (i.e. the problems LC needed to solve) will be listed and described. Possible approaches to solving the problems will be listed. The selected open‐source gateway product and its features will be described. A possible instance of the product's configuration file will be provided and annotated.

Findings

It is possible for many third‐party server problems to be corrected or controlled even if the server application is not accessible by vendor APIs. LC was able to do this by installing the YAZ Proxy, a product that is both a Z39.50‐to‐Z39.50 gateway and an SRU‐to‐Z39.50 gateway. The proxy provides a way to filter and sanitize problematic Z39.50 requests, and it also allows the ILS system server to support retrieval of XML records and to support access via an XML‐based search protocol. Dramatic system performance improvements resulted from the installation of this product.

Originality/value

The paper describes an inexpensive way to provide performance improvements to a ILS system Z39.50 server and to provide enhancements that allow XML retrieval of MARC records and the support of an XML‐based search protocol.

Citation

Dixson, L.E. (2009), "YAZ proxy installation to enhance Z39.50 server performance", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 277-285. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830910968227