Back to Solutions

ViPER

Open Preservation Foundation
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Website (Opens in new window) Get in Touch (Opens in new window)

About

Launched: 2023
Record Updated: Jan 06, 2026
Digital preservation tool
ViPER (Virtual Preservation Environment for Research) is an open-source, easy-to-install virtual machine running popular open-source preservation tools with graphical user interfaces: DROID, HandBrake, JHOVE, MediaInfo, Tika, and veraPDF.
Organisational IT policy means that many digital preservation practitioners lack the privileges to install software on their company workstations and laptops. ViPER provides a virtual environment with open-source digital preservation tools pre-installed. This can be used to evaluate software tools without installation. It is also intended for use as a training aid for digital preservation tools.

Mission

Open Preservation Foundation is a global not-for-profit membership organization working to advance shared standards and solutions for the long-term preservation of digital content.

Key Achievements

The International Comparison of Recommended File Formats group was established to discuss file format issues. It compares the accepted and preferred file formats used in international cultural heritage and research institutions. The group brings together members interested in evolving this resource and discussing file format issues with peers. The OPF also hosts the COPTR tool registry.
In January 2025 Neil Jefferies was appointed as the new Executive Director of the OPF. Neil has extensive digital preservation experience, including OCFL and SWORD. In November 2025 the OPF hired a new Communications officer and have taken on two new members in the last quarter of 2025.
In December 2025, the OPF released the first alpha of its latest software tool, an open-source validator for the Open Document Format for Office Applications. This is to help organisations ensure that documents conforming to this specification are suitable for preservation.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Code Repository

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Technical Documentation

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

Ansible

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Standards

Community Engagement

Code of Conduct

In Progress

Community Engagement

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to user research or user testing
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

Community Engagement Activities

  • Annual meetings
  • Conference participation
  • Interest, working, user, or advisory groups
  • Mailing lists and discussion forums (including Slack)
  • Social media
  • Staff roles with responsibility for community engagement
  • User research
  • Webinars and training

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

ViPER is a project of the Open Preservation Foundation a company, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and Stichting Open Preservation, registered as a foundation with the Kamer van Koophandel.

Policies

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

In Progress

Privacy Policy

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Board Level

  • Provider

Community Governance

  • Formal

Additional Information

Organizational History

The OPF was established in 2010 to sustain the outcomes of an EU-funded R&D project called Planets. The Foundation’s goal was to build on the project’s collaborative, practical approach to digital preservation.
In 2014 the OPF changed its name from the Open Planets Foundation to the Open Preservation Foundation to reflect evolution and relevance within a growing field. The OPF is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation, welcoming digital preservation practitioners from around the world to our community.
Collaboration and sustainability remain at the heart of what we do, serving our members and the community by providing practical digital preservation solutions and facilitating best practices.
We work to enable shared solutions for digital preservation, leading collaborative efforts to create and develop sustainable, open-source software, resources and standards. This enables organisations to evaluate and process digital content while documenting and mitigating risk.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Non-profit organization

Full-time Staff

6-10

Non-profit Status

Company limited by guarantee

Current Affiliations

Artefactual

Funding

Primary Funding Source

Membership subscription fees
Back to Top