OpenSAML user discussion

Hi All,

   We have a need to inter-operate with OpenSAML (either v 1.1 or 2.) in the 
immediate future. I have spent a good amount of time on the net trying to 
find answers to these high-level questions.  Can someone please answer the 
following questions

1. What components are required to build a SP (or SAML 1.x consumer)? I mean, 
can we download the OpenSAML1.1b version, build it and deploy on a tomcat 
server?  Is that sufficient to get us a functional SP?

2. Similarly what components are required to build an IdP (or SAML 1.x 
producer)?

3. It looks like there is a "packaged download" of shibboleth idp and sp in 
tar.gz format.  Is it sufficient to download and install these packages to 
have a functional idp and SP?

4. We have also found opensaml2-2.0-alpha1-src files available for download. 
What steps are necessary to build a SP from this source download?

   I really appreaciate answers to these questions.

Vijay