NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live1 Virtual Computing Lab (VCL): A New Strategy for a New Era Higher Services AND Cost Effectiveness Copyright © 2006 NC State University. All rights reserved. Changing landscape of global learning & student expectations require 24X7 access to advanced computing based on virtualization of resources Personal computers are pervasive among students; build on this to provide sophisticated application environments that are easily accessed and customized Efficient sharing of resources - both high end applications and High Performance Computing

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live2 Emerging Paradigm Intermediate Student Computing Hi-end Student Computing Low-end HPC Intermediate HPC Consumer/Personal Computing Super Computing Services Delivered via Highly Uniform, Extensible, Malleable, & Supportable Hardware Architecture The Computing Pyramid Grand Challenge Class Problems Complementary Services Middle Tier Is VCL Core Universal Computing Architecture

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live3 Technology Trends The New Computing Reality

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live4 Computing As A Service Consumer/Commodity Computing Super Computing It’s not about the Hardware Image Library Images, not hardware, have become the differentiator Try it Use it Own it Don’t care Can’t tell A Disruptive Innovation On-demand Resource Provisioning Intermediate Student Computing Hi-end Student Computing Low-end HPC Intermediate HPC Time Place Platform Independence

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live5 It’s About Solutions Paradoxical drivers Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Research Instruction Individualized Centralized Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Predictable Uncontrolled VCL The Quest for Investment Efficiency and Academic Effectiveness

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live6 It’s About Solutions Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Research Instruction Individualized Centralized Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Predictable Uncontrolled Quarantining Re-imaging Autonomy Security VCL

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live7 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Multiplicity simplicity Instruction Individualized Centralized Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Predictable Uncontrolled Ending the culture wars Standards & Affluence Critical Mass & Timing Equity Excellence Research VCL

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live8 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Research Instruction Individualized Centralized Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Predictable Uncontrolled Complexity is THE limiting factor Task Specific Images Multiplicity Simplicity VCL

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live9 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Individualized Centralized Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Predictable Uncontrolled Universal Architecture Dynamic Resource Allocation From competition to collaboration Research Instruction VCL

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live10 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Research Instruction Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Predictable Uncontrolled Empowering learning Build Your Own Image Templates Provided Centralized VCL Individualized

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live11 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Research Instruction Individualized Centralized Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Predictable VCL Uncontrolled Well Behaved Client Turning chaos into value

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live12 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Research Instruction Individualized Centralized Predictable Uncontrolled Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary Innovation Accessibility VCL Individual and Personal A Multimedia Problem

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live13 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Research Instruction Individualized Centralized Predictable Uncontrolled Innovation Accessibility Open Proprietary Resiliency Productivity VCL Portability vs Duplication Meeting requirements Maximizing ROI

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live14 Grand Vision “GRID” Computing that works Campus Service Provider Partner or Peer Consortia, etc Low-end HPC Intermediate HPC Intermediate Student Computing Hi-end Student Computing Low-end HPC Special/Custom Services Intermediate Student Computing Hi-end Student Computing Low-end HPC Intermediate HPC Intermediate Student Computing Hi-end Student Computing Low-end HPC Intermediate HPC

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live15 It’s About Solutions Autonomy Security Equity Excellence Multiplicity simplicity Research Instruction Individualized Centralized Predictable Uncontrolled Innovation Accessibility Resiliency Productivity Open Proprietary VCL Maximizing Market Opportunities What business are we in?

NC State University Information Technology Division College of Engineering NC State College of Engineering Sept 14, 2006/EDUCAUSE-Live16 Where Next? Next Move? Today—next generation computing architecture at production status Venture Start-up Historically a losing proposition where product is of value to educational enterprise State Funding Uncertain prospect Bad timing Give It Away Build Open Source Framework Development & Std’s Establish Strategic Partnerships Develop User Community Maximize & Focus Internal Investment Toward a universal delivery model Portability of Images and Skills 1.Standards Development 2.Vetting Process 3.Development Framework