1. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory The Value of Well-planned Test Cruises on the Access Grid Mary Fritsch Access Grid Support Coordinator Futures Laboratory, Math & Computer Science Division Argonne National Laboratory fritsch@mcs.anl.gov

2. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Purpose Communication Meeting other AG Sites Eliminating Surprises Troubleshooting Large Issues Understanding Roles of each AG Site

3. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Who AG Sites Participating or Attending Speakers Interested Attendees Node Operators Technical Staff Dismissing Tested Sites Providing Additional Help When Needed

4. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory What Discussion of Details You “Do” Know Run Through of the Overall Plan (i.e. speaker order, master/client, server runs) Average Test Cruise Lasts from 30 Minutes to 1 Hour It is always better to have several short cruises, than one long cruise.

5. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Test What Audio Video URLs Real Teleconference Bridging Switching All Visual Aids to be Used Check of Software Loaded for Specific Meeting Needs

6. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Where Always Test in “Same” Physical Space Meet and Test with “Same” Node Operator that will be Running the Final Meeting For Consistency, Try to Reserve and Meet in “Same” Virtual Venue Discuss Camera Angles and Video Streams Test your Entire Space where will people be sitting, preferences of shots from other sites, any preferences of local attendees

7. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory When Testing is Always Dependent on Meeting 1 to 2 Weeks Prior to Meeting is Average Size of Attendees and Stress Level should be Considered Again, 15 Minutes to 1 Hour Might Work Depending on the Meeting Specifics

8. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Tools Provide All People Involved with Overview of Space, Tip Cards, Documentation Make Sure You Stress the Importance of Receiving All Files to be Distributed at Least One Day Prior to Meeting Explain Benefits and Limitations of Meeting over the AG Do Not Introduce or Overlay Other Modes of Telecommunication or Video into Meeting Unless Fully Tested

9. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Get Information Online Feel Free to Create a Simple Webpage to Hold All Information About your Meeting agenda testing and meeting dates/times participants venue name server name dppt links contact information If Medium to Large Scale Meeting, Sending Multiple Emails with Amended Information Tends to Confuse (A Webpage Simplifies Things for Node Operators/Coordinator As Well)

10. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Why Why Put a Value on a Well-planned Test Cruise? Reduction (however not elimination of) stress, surprises, broken lines of communication, impression of technology, effect of content on workgroups or staff. Test Cruises give you a sense of what might occur in the actual meeting. You become more familiar with Mud characters, real faces, and company names. Test Cruises will make or break “any” meeting, especially one over the Access Grid!

11. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Conclusion AG Meetings Need Just as Much Preparation if not a Little More than an Average Meeting The More Information Shared and Tested, the Better Your AG Experience will be for Everyone Involved Test Cruises Bring Sites Together

12. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Further Direction AGDP (http://www.accessgrid.org/agdp/) Online Tutorials (http://webct.ncsa.uiuc.edu:8900/public/AGIB/) AG Seminar Series (http://scv.bu.edu/accessgrid/seminars/) Simple Checklist on Having a Meeting (http://www-fp.mcs.anl.gov/fl/accessgrid/aglogistics.htm) Discussions with Experienced Sites Technical Mailing Lists (ag-tech@mcs.anl.gov) Open Testing (http://www-fp.mcs.anl.gov/fl/accessgrid/ag- opencruises.htm)

13. Mary Fritsch, Argonne National Laboratory Thank You Questions? Comments?