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Minutes of Meeting, July 18, 2003 Present: Carola Butler (Physics & Astronomy), Rob Harrison (Computer Science), Xiaochun He (Physics & Astronomy), David McBride (University Educational Technology Services), Sham Navathe (College of Computing, Georgia Tech), Yi Pan (Computer Science - Yamacraw), Hakmana W. Sanjeewa (Physics & Astronomy), Chris Shaw (GVU Center, Georgia Tech), Carl Stucke (Computer Information Systems), Irene Weber (Biology), Vijay Vaishnavi (Computer Information Systems), Art Vandenberg (IS&T, Advanced Campus Services), Xiaorong Wang (Physics & Astronomy), Wanxia Xie (College of Computing, Georgia Tech) Handouts : Minutes of Meeting, June 24 2003 "Large Area Cosmic Muon Flux Measurement" document of Dr. He et al GRID Group @ GSU DRAFT GRID PROPOSAL (proposal had 2 attachments: Foster et alia's " The Physiology of the GRID " Abstract attached July 2003 Draft of " GRID Group @ GSU Applications Catalog ") SUMMARY on network speed Dr. He's lab, June 24, 2003 Purpose : Check Status Items; review funding options; review draft proposal 1. Funding status : Art is coordinating search for 2 Undergrads for the NMI NSF REU project. Their initial task is related to building an Application catalog of Grid applications at GSU and other NMI Integration Testbed schools. Art noted that there is possibility of an NMI Intra-testbed GRID project, which could be synergistic with NSF REU activities. The SURA project manager for the NMI Integration Testbed is trying to see if some funding may be available. 2. Email to Dr. Charles Louis, VP Research : MJ Casto, Interim CIO recommended that we inform Dr. Louis of the GRID Group @ GSU activities. Art shared a July 9, 2003 email (attached) that he sent to Dr. Louis. We concurred that keeping an open line of communication with Sponsored Research Office was good. 3. Status of Action Items July 18 : updated status as follows: i) Testing Physics Lab core connection - Xiaorong Wang reported that testing of equipment confirmed that the network connection in the Physics lab was a limiting factor. When connected to the network core, a) file transfers from BNL to ATL was improved by a factor of 2, b) Phenix simulation runs (see http://petitt.phy-astr.gsu.edu/ ) ran much longer, and c) AFS mounts were much more stable. ACTION ITEM : Dr. He and Charles Hollingsworth will review technical options (and cost) for improving connectivity. ii) Investigate NMI security (review certs & SSH; test?) - Dr. Harrison briefly noted that GRID security will be a factor in what applications are hosted. While terabytes of muon simulation data may not be a security risk, access to biological data and research results (consider epidemiology research on West Nile virus outbreaks) will require secure nodes and secure access. iii) Investigate additional equipment grants (Sun, Dell, Apple, IBM?) - Dr. He reviewed status of muon project, with particular note of the requirement for equipment in the Georgia High School sites. Platform requirements are relatively low level, at least from perspective of controlling the muon detectors. While data could be collected locally, having a remotely attached node (muon Grid) would be desirable. 4. Draft GRID Proposal : Art presented a draft GRID proposal (handout) with the key concept being to: Deploy a state wide (multi-state?) information technology utility GRID for research and education collaboration. As "anchor applications" consider high-school muon detector nodes, a network of weather stations that serve in their own right but also support muon research, and videoconferencing nodes to enable collaboration between K-12 and university collaborators. The idea is investigate a multi-purpose, layered grid infrastructure. The group discussed possible sources for additional funding: Georgia Research Alliance ( http://www.gra.org/homepage.asp ) Georgia State Research Enhancement Program that provides up to $50K per year for students supporting collaborations among 3 or more faculty Georgia Tech's Focused Research Program (similar to GSU Res. Enhancement Prog.) Bioinformatics Grids [see interesting "[ biogrid] Notes from recent GlobusWorld on biogrids " posted by Don Gilbert ( gilbertd@bio.indiana.edu )Jan 21 2003 http://www.apbionet.org/listar-archives/biogrid/2003-01/0001.html ) NSF Cyberinfrastructure program ( http://www.cise.nsf.gov/news/cybr/cybr.htm ) Additional comments were made about how we might obtain hardware, a suggestion being that perhaps a micro-payments model would encourage contributions of equipment, a node acquiring credit for services provided to the Grid. Consideration of software licensing models will be another interesting issue, such as how distributing graphic rendering features will play out. Re the possible NMI Integration Testbed intra-testbed GRID, the group did concur that having a realistic testbed would be a great opportunity. We concluded with recommendation for "literature search" to identity a niche of GRID work that would provide a distinctive flavor to our research and funding opportunities. ACTION ITEM : Art correct some misspellings. Continue the draft proposal. OPEN ACTION ITEMS : (italics are new items)
From: "Art Vandenberg" <avandenberg@gsu.edu> To: Charles Louis CC: Albertha Barrett, yipan@gsu.edu, xrwang@gsu.edu, xhe@gsu.edu, mjcasto@gsu.edu, iweber@gsu.edu, dedwards@gsu.edu, Vijay K. Vaishnavi, cdshaw@cc.gatech.edu, gobinda@bnl.gov, cscrwh@asterix.cs.gsu.edu Date: Wednesday - July 9, 2003 9:26 AM Subject: GRID Group @ GSU Dr.Louis, MJ Casto suggested I advise you of our GRID Group @ GSU initiative. Georgia State University is a member of the NSF Middleware Initiative (NMI) Integration Testbed Program. The NMI Testbed is a group of 8 universities engaged in a 3-year project deploying middleware components as part of NSF's overall effort to develop and disseminate software that lets scientists and educators share resources across the Internet. I have been working with a number of faculty over that last couple of years and we've convened a GRID Group @ GSU whose purpose is to: Build effective GRID infrastructure Identify applications that can benefit from GRIDs Attract and retain faculty and students Foster research activities and opportunities Encourage funding Some of the faculty are Xiaochun He, Xiaorong Wang, Gobinda Mishra, Physics & Astronomy; Irene Weber, Don Edwards, Biology; Rob Harrison, Yi Pan, Computer Science; Vijay Vaishnavi, Computer Information Systems; Chris Shaw, Georgia Tech's Graphics, Visualization & Usability Lab. We've started a web page with agendas, minutes: http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwacs/GRID_Group/Index.htm . Currently we are focusing on drafting a proposal for a GRID that incorporates Dr. He's muon detectors and simulation for high schools, adds weather detectors and simulation from Dr. Shaw's area, and perhaps videoconferencing nodes. Dr. Pan noted that approaching the GRID proposal as a more general, multi-purpose project would enhance its chances with NSF or other agencies. The GRID Group concurs that including mentoring of students and teachers in K-12 is a desirable outcome. I am working with SURA (Southeastern Universities Research Association) via the NMI Testbed grant and there is potential for a multi-state GRID. Via the NMI Testbed, we have received NSF REU Supplements to support 2 undergrad students for the next year - the students will work with the GRID Group @ GSU. All in all, we think this "has legs" and has good potential. At the very least, we are collaborating on deploying GRID technology in support of research applications. I've attached a preview of an IS&T FocusIT [July 2003] newsletter article. If you would like additional information, let me know. I'm sure you or your staff would be welcome to join us in a future meeting - especially as we move forward on this grant development. thank you Art Art Vandenberg Director, Advanced Campus Services Information Systems & Technology, MSC 6B0580 Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street, Unit #6 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3086 avandenberg@gsu.edu +1 404 463 9685 |
Last Updated: March 2, 2006