1. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview1 Virtual Laboratory Overview A collaborative analysis environment for applied experimental science Distributed instrumentation & resource access Remote resources transparently available Focus on content and information Guide the user through the experiment

2. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview2 Distributed Metacomputing: the Grid Dependable, consistent and pervasive access to (high-end) resources Guaranteed end-to-end performance Varying resource availability Various administrative domains Security, policy and payment

3. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview3 The Grid, a layman’s view In ye olde days (till approx 1992): –Hardly any network security –All machines in a LAN are created equal –All local users happy with remote shell, rlogin, rcp Now: –Want to communicate globally over Gigabit WAN, but –Internet is a dangerous place full of crackers and government agencies, firewalls and barriers The Grid: –Bring back single sign on and trust –use the WAN as the 80’s LANs: all global users happy

4. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview4 The fabric (machines and network) Surfnet5/Gigaport networking –Now: 20 Gbit/s IP backbone (POS framing) –In 2003: 80 Gbit/s –Connects universities, institutes and acad. home users Client connections now: –NIKHEF: 1 Gbit/s Surfnet,2x1 Gbit/s WTCWnet (SARA) –VU: 155 Mbit/s (soon 1Gbit/s) Compute Resources –Farms, supercomputer, tape robot, visualization, …

5. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview5 Microbeam and VLAM-G network Secure connection between microbeam and WTCW IPsec tunnel (VPN): encryption and integrity checking SurfNet backbone ComputeFarm VPN router VU – counting room Institute Network CampusNet VPN router

6. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview6 The VLAM-G Applications Three prototype applications for the VLAM-G –Materials Analysis of Complex Surfaces (MacsLab) Microbeam, FT-IR, TOF-SIMS mass spectroscopy –Biomedical simulation and visualization (VRE) Link patient MRI scans with blood-flow simulations in vessels –Genome expression studies using a DNA Micro Array (Expressive) Mass-test reaction of antibodies on DNA and proteins Applications share concept of Process Flow Many use unique (in NL) resources or need compute power

7. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview7 A layered architecture

8. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview8 Objectives Designing middleware: bridge gap between Grid- and application-layer Enable VL users to define, execute, and monitor their experiments Provide to VL users: • location independent experimentation, • familiar experimentation environment • assistance during his experiment

9. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview9 Information and process flow Information gathering Experimentation Interpretation Access to devices Access to information Grid accessible infra: apparatus, systems, network Access to data

10. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview10 A simple architecture view Front-end RTS Assistant Collaboration Globus Toolkit Application DB VL AM KernelDB

11. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview11 Application Domain DB  Characteristics of typical application • Scientist(s) performing the experiment • On objects and pre-existing information & data • On which processes operate • That use apparatus with specific properties • Resulting in new data and information •A domain-specific flow of processes Expressive MACSEFC Examples: Expressive, MACS, EFC,...

12. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview12 VL-AM Kernel DB " Stores user support information: – experiment topology definitions – module descriptions – user information " Provides cross-links to application annotations knows the context in which data was generated| " Extends resource directories now used in Grid

13. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview13 Device control Needs a very stable and secure environment Concurrent access: –Full control for (many) local operators –Limited control for remote end-users (laymen) Control very device dependent (unique properties) Use dedicated control software as user interface DACQ output needs to be integrated in the VLAM

14. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview14 A microprobe experiment (Analysis)

15. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview15 A User’s View

16. David Groep / 2001.05.08Virtual Lab overview16 VLAM-G current status Prototypes of the analysis environment exist Distributed compute environment ready @WCW (VU soon) Integrating the various parts of VLAM-G AM Currently building the analysis GUI Expect working demo in June (HPCN conference) Analysis modules: Stefan Piet and Gert Eijkel Secure Network to VU: now selecting equipment Building of device interface (LabView): Q3/Q4 2001