The
CERN openlab for DataGrid applications is a framework for evaluating and
integrating cutting-edge technologies or services in partnership with industry,
focusing on potential solutions for the LCG. The openlab invites members of the
industry to join and contribute systems, resources or services, and carry out
with CERN large-scale highly-performing evaluation of their solutions in an
advanced integrated environment.
In a nutshell, the major achievements in 2002 were: the creation of a solid
management structure for the project (the openlab Management Unit), the
successful incorporation of a third partner (Hewlett Packard, joining Enterasys
and Intel,
and following the withdrawal of KPNQwest), the specification of a
three-year technical program to construct and test the opencluster (a powerful
compute and storage farm), and the building up of the initial version of the
system.
The project is formally led by the IT
Division Leader, seconded by the Associate Head, the Chief Technology Officer,
the Development and Communication Officer, and formal liaison persons for each
of the openlab industrial partner. They form the openlab Management Unit (
The
year 2002 started with three partners (called openlab sponsors): Enterasys
Networks (Network Equipment Provider), Intel Corporation (processor technology manufacturer),
KPNQwest (Network Service Provider) The annual Board of Sponsors meeting was
held the 11th of March, and the annual report issued at this
occasion. KPNQwest withdrew in the spring, having filed for
bankruptcy. Hewlett Packard (HP) joined in the course of the summer. In the
context of HP's integrating the consortium, CERN
joined Gelato, a federation aiming at developing open-source software for IA-64
Linux platforms. Preparatory work started with all three sponsors to formalize
the agreements between these companies and CERN. Discussions took place during
the second half of the year to integrate a fourth partner in the field of
storage technologies.
The openlab
is constructing a pilot compute and storage farm called the opencluster, based
on HP's dual processors machines, Intel's Itanium Processors
Family (IPF) processors, Enterasys's 10-Gbps switches
and a storage system to be provided by additional partner(s). A three-phase
technical plan has been draws up (phase 1: creation of local cluster; phase 2: gridification and interworking
with European sites; phase 3: interworking with
A 6-machine
development cluster based on HP-Itanium2 system was set up. An additional 32
systems (that is 64 processors) are expected early in 2003. Tests of the 10Gbps
switches showed teething difficulties that were reported to the manufacturer
and corrected. Major physics packages (CLHEP, GEANT4, ROOT)
were
successfully ported and tested, and benchmarks started to be carried out,
producing already notable results. Following successful negotiations with HP,
two fellows will join the project in 2003, funded by HP's
contribution to the openlab.
The
successful development of the project requires strong technical coordination
between all the partners, as the goal is to build a common, coherent system.
This is the major difference with bi-lateral joint projects. To this end, a
plan for technical coordination and meetings was drawn up and presented to the
sponsors.
As a
parallel activity to the current openlab, work was undertaken by the openlab
Development Officer to explore other openlab possibilities. One avenue for
development concerns a more user-centric project, which would address mobility
issues. Finally, work was undertaken on an integrated description of
Grid-related activities for the popular part of the CERN annual report.
F.Fluckiger