Distributed information system established in the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) is aimed at integrating information resources of different organisations affiliated to the Novosibirsk Science Centre. The main goal of the system is to ensure efficient information support to research work undertaken in SB RAS.

Technological basis of the system is Z39.50 protocol - an open international standard intended to provide access to different databases.

The basis of the information system is made by:

• Original server Z39.50 v.3 constructed according to modular principle and operating on different hardware-software platforms (Windows NT, Unix), containing access units to different DBMS - data providers CDS/ISIS, MS ADO, Text etc.;
• Original Z39.50-WWW gateway providing access to the system from the Web;
• Specialized Z39.50 clients workstations.

Система обеспечивает вывод информации в стандартных форматах Z39.50 (SUTRS, GRS-1, USMARC, UNIMARC, RUSMARC, html) и поддержку служебной базы метаданных Explain. В докладе подробно рассматриваются характеристики серверного и клиентского программного обеспечения. Приводятся результаты опытной эксплуатации системы. Обсуждаются пути дальнейшего развития. The system provides for information output in standard formats Z39.50 (SUTRS, GRS-1, USMARC, UNIMARC, RUSMARC, html) as well as for support of the auxiliary metadata base Explain.

The report consideres characteristics of the server and client software. Outcomes of the system testings are presented, ways of further development discussed.