Manchester Computing Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science Michael Daw 25 th August 2003 NORDUnet Network Conference Reykjavik, Iceland Access Grid The Future of Advanced Collaboration?

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science2 Contents  What is Access Grid?  History of Access Grid  Current developments  Future developments  Videoconferencing Report  SC Global

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science3 Typical Views of Access Grid ETF Management MeetingSeminar SC Global WorkshopPerformance Art

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science4 What is Access Grid? (1)  Large-scale display – typically a whole wall  Multiple video streams from each site  Natural, full-duplex audio with echo cancellation  An “Advanced Collaboration Environment”  Uses IP multicast for video/audio  Open Source software; commodity equipment Usually!

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science5 What is Access Grid? (2)  Virtual collaborative spaces – Virtual Venues  Places to share: –Video –Audio –Data –Applications  Virtual Organisations have their own Virtual Venues

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science6 Access Grid History  November 1998 – Access Grid born at Argonne National Lab  First event – Chautauqua ‘99  August 2001 – UK gets first AG Manchester  November 2001 – SC Global 2001 (Denver)  May 2003 – AG2  November 2003 – SC Global 2003 (Phoenix)

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science7 Number of Access Grid Nodes  Feb 2003 – 5 out of 7 continents; 17 countries; 39 US states

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science8 Scheduled Access Grid Events  But how many unscheduled?

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science9 Current Developments – AG2  AG1 = proof-of-concept prototype  AG2:  Integrate with Grid technologies (e.g. X.509 certificates for authentication)  Secure environment  Robust, extensible framework  Improved network features  Services architecture

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science10 Future Developments  Improved video  Improved audio  Easier operation  Easier sharing of data  Automated failover  Support of different bandwidth capabilities

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science11 Videoconferencing Report  Oct 2002 – publication of “Multi-Site Videoconferencing for the UK e-Science Programme”  04.html 04.html  Comparison between Access Grid, H.323/H.320, VRVS, Non-Studio Based Videoconferencing  Human Factors  Interoperability  Data & Application Sharing

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science12 Main Recommendations 1.Create an e-Science advanced collaborative environments R&D effort 2.Formalise Access Grid support 3.Enable full interoperability between different technologies 4.Deploy multicast bridge(s) 5.Investigate improvements for multi-site booking systems

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science13 SC Global 2001  SC Global 2001 – “World’s First Truly Distributed Conference”  6 out of 7 continents

Supercomputing, Visualization & e-Science14 SC Global 2003  Built on AG2 technology and distributed Tech Hubs  Events include: –Tribal Virtual Network –Grid & Web Services towards Collaborative Visualization –Virtual Design in Engineering –Collaborative Art  November  At Phoenix & on the Network! 

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