1. CERN openlab for DataGrid applications Overview F.Fluckiger

2. Where does it come from? Stems from desire to create a framework for
IT Division “R&D”
in collaboration with Industry 01
MD’s initial proposal
“Guiding Principles” formulated
Enterasys, Intel, KPNQwest send Letter of Intent 02
1st Board of Sponsor (BoS) Annual Meeting
KPNQwest Files for Bankruptcy
Talks for a Storage component start
HP joins
openlab Management Unit created 03

3. What is it? “Agreement” framework for sponsorship
Current Guiding Principles
3-year commitment
Minimum contribution: USD1.5M over three years
Contributions may be a mix of
In kind (HW, SW)
In cash (then, CERN commits to use it for funding manpower)

4. What are we doing? “R&D” in its general sense
In practice:
Evaluate and Integrate cutting edge solutions
Focus: LCG in the medium/longer term
Current Project: opencluster
openlab
framework
opencluster project

5. opencluster See SJ’s after-C5 presentation on 07-03-03
Compute farm + storage system
IA-64 IFPs + 10Gbps cards Intel
Dual-processor systems HP (*)
10 Gbps switches Enterasys
Storage system (file system + storage capacity) xxx
(*) CERN joined Gelato: Federation to promote open-source Linux-IA-64 apps

6. Where are we? 02 First Enterasys switches delivered
6 HP (development) dual processors systems delivered
Intel increase their contribution to 348 processors 03
32 HP (production) dual processors systems delivered
1ST Operational meeting with Sponsor engineers (theme: the 10Gbps challenge)

7. Management openlab Management Unit (oMU)
to provide a stable interface to sponsors
to Integrate divisional efforts
Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor
Head W.v.Rüden
Associate Head F.Fluckiger
CTO S.Jarp
Comm. & Dev. Officer F.Grey
Liaison LCG D.Foster
Liaison EDG tbc
Liaison Enterasys J.M.Jouanigot
Liaison HP, Intel S.Jarp
Liaison Storage Sponsor D.Foster
oMU

8. Resources and structure
Transversal structure
+ staff stay in their natural technical environment
“R&D” not concentrated
- Reporting channels; integration effort DI FF FG
FIO HR
ADC SJ
Fell.1
Fell.2 CS
JMJ MC

9. Is openlab something new?
Is it really different from
past (DD/CN/IT) joint projects?
today’s field test with industry?
Not totally, but definite differences
A common contractual framework
A common technical objective
Building something out of individual contributions
Collaborative work between sponsor engineers

10. On sponsor expectations ..
GPs obligations
Sponsors contribute resources
CERN organize annual BoS meeting + write (public) annual report
Sponsor’s current expectations
Technical benefits
Sponsor’s Initial expectations
PR benefits
“From Sponsorship to Partnership”

11. openlab development F.Grey reflecting on extending the openlab concept
to IT-related fields; e.g.
Security
Mobility
to other fields (material, energy)
Possible model
openlab for
DataGrid
Applications
framework
opencluster project
security project?
Priority is to progress the first project (opencluster)
whilst keeping the framework flexible enough to accommodate extensions
learn from 1st project
mobility project?

12. Assessment Positive factors Technical momentum
Positive feedback from sponsors

13. Assessment (cont) Factors to watch
Be useful to LCG (in the longer term):
address relevant technical issues
select right technologies / solutions
Technical momentum to be maintained
Solidify, obtain results before extending

14. More …
openlab internal site
from openlab public site