eCMS is a web-based federated content management system for the support of distributed teaching based on an open, distributed middleware architecture for the publication, discovery, retrieval, and integration of educational material. The infrastructure supports the management of both standalone material and structured courses, as well as the integration of existing organized external repositories. The infrastructure is complemented with services targeting the specific needs of user groups involved in the e-Learning process, namely learners, content providers, course managers, and repository administrators.