Grid Activities in Cyprus Marios Dikaiakos University of Cyprus

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Grid Activities in CyprusMarios
DikaiakosUniversity of Cyprus
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Overview

• A few words about the Grid
• Grid activities in Cyprus
• CyGrid and the Local Testbed
• Program of talks

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The Dead Supercomputer Societyand the killer
micros
Once upon a time..
Microcomputer
Mini Computer
Cluster
(by Christophe Jacquet)
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The GRID distributed computing idea
and today
(by Christophe Jacquet)
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Why Now?
Moores Law vs. storage improvements vs. optical
improvements. Graph from Scientific American
(Jan-2001) by Cleo Vilett, source Vined Khoslan,
Kleiner, Caufield and Perkins.
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What is a Grid?

• Collaborative set of computing, data storage and
  network resources belonging to different
  administrative domains that has knowledge about
  the status of its components through active,
  distributed information services.
• Uses standard, open, general-purpose protocols
  and APIs.
  
• Allows certified users belonging to multi-domain
  Virtual Organizations to access a large amount
  of resources via single log in. (sign on).
  
• Offers a simple, consistent, dependable, and
  pervasive access across wide-area networks and
  presents users with an integrated global
  resource.
• Manages concurrent access by large numbers of
  dispersed users.

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What is a Grid ?

• An infrastructure that couples
• Networked Computers PCs, workstations,
  clusters, supercomputers, laptops, notebooks,
  
• mobile devices, PDA, etc
• Software e.g., ASPs renting expensive special
  purpose applications on demand
  
• Catalogued data and databases e.g. transparent
  access to human genome database
  
• Special devices e.g., radio telescope
  SETI_at_Home searching for life in galaxy,
  Austrophysics_at_Swinburne for pulsars)
  
• People/collaborators.

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A View of the Grid Infrastructure
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What it takes to build the Grid?

• New programming tools.
• Software that can translate the requirements of
  an application into requirements for computers,
  networks, and storage.
  
• Security mechanisms that permit resources to be
  accessed only by authorized users.
  
• Computers and operating systems that are more
  tightly integrated with high-speed networks.
  
• Strong standardisation efforts (common, open
  protocols).
  
• Killer applications?

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Grid Activities in Cyprus

• Focused around the University of Cyprus.
• Funded by European Commission through IST-FP5.
• Currently, three running projects
• BioGrid
• CrossGrid
• SeLeNe

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Grid Projects in Cyprus

• BioGrid (September 2002 / 24 months)
• Development of a research infrastructure for
  large genomics and proteomics databases
  applications.
  
• Globus
• CrossGrid (March 2002 / 36 months)
• Grid Infrastructure for Interactive
  applications.
  
• EDG/CG
• SeLeNe (November 2002 / 12 months)
• Feasibility study of using Semantic Web
  technology for dynamically integrating metadata
  from heterogeneous and autonomous educational
  resources.

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CyGrid

• An activity funded in the context of the
  CrossGrid project.
  
• Goal
• Establish the local node of the pan-european
  CrossGrid testbed.
  
• Establish a Certification Authority for Cyrpus.
• Promote the uptake of Grid technologies in Cyprus
  and the deployment of new applications on the
  CyGrid testbed.

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• What is the CrossGrid testbed ?
• A collection of distributed computing resources
• Supporting a Grid environment
• Objectives
• Development, Testing and validation
• Emphasis on interoperability with EU-DataGrid
  (EDG)
  
• Extension of GRID across Europe

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CG Testbed Overview

• A collection of distributed computing resources
• 16 sites (small large) in 9 countries,
  connected through Géant NRN
  
• 115 CPUs (Worker Nodes)
• 4 TB (Storage Elements)
• Grid Services Middleware (based on
  Globus,EDG) RB, VO, RC
  
• A group of people and resources make up the
  CrossGrid Virtual Organization (VO) and trust
  each other through national Certification
  Authorities.

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Testbed resources
Network
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The CyGrid Testbed
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The CyGrid Testbed
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CyCA The Certification Authority of CyGrid

• Established within the EU project "CrossGrid"
  the CyGrid testbed.
  
• Goal to enable researchers to safely use the
  Grid.
  
• Main operation provides X.509 certificates for
  identification and authentication purposes
  related to Grid activities.
  
• CyGrid CA is independent of any single
  organization.
  
• Signs certificates for individuals that are
  allowed access to the grid resources and hosts.

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Crossgrid CA's
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CyCA Acceptance

• List of mutually recognized Certification
  Authorities and their status maintained in the
  Acceptance Matrix of Brian Coghlan, TCD.

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Thanks!

• The IST APART Working Group
• Our sponsor Hyperion Systems Engineering Ltd.

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Grid Day Program

• Official Opening and Welcome
• Professor Stavros Zenios, Rector, University of
  Cyprus
  
• Overview of Grid Activities in Cyprus
• Dr. Marios Dikaiakos, Dept of Computer Science,
  U. of Cyprus
  
• CrossGrid Architecture, Applications, Tools and
  New Grid Services
  
• Dr. Marian Bubak, Institute of Computer Science,
  AGH Cyfronet, Poland
  
• ASKALON A Tool Set for Cluster and Grid
  Computing (1615-1645)
  
• Dr. Thomas Fahringer, Institute for Computer
  Science, U. of Innsbruck, Austria
  
• Coffee Break (1645-1715)
• Distributed Query Processing on the Grid
  (1715-1745)
  
• Dr. Rizos Sakellariou, Dept. of Computer
  Science, U. of Manchester, UK
  
• Introduction of a Grid Approach in the
  Biotechnology Industry (1745-1815)
  
• Dr. Dimitrios Vogiatzis, Dept. of Computer
  Science, U. of Cyprus
  
• Panel Discussion (1815-1900)