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A state of the
art of the national and international achievments in the presented
technical and scientific field
The GRID concept
was established by Ian Foster's and Carl Kesselman's work [1] and
represents the architectures, protocols and sets of utility software that
allow for the coordination of distributed computational resources and
data storage. The two authors, considered to be the founders of this
concept, desired the public to have transparent access to distributed
resources. A concise definition, oriented by necessity towards practical
issues, is given in the work [2] where the GRID is considered to be a distributed
and reconfigurable infrastructure, representing a flexible and secure way
to coordinate the computing resources sharing by various dynamic groups
of people, institutions or virtual organizations.
Figure 1
Access to these
resources is permanent and does not depend on the location. The shared
resources offer computational and data storing features, software tools
and information used to solve very complex problems that cannot be solved
on a single machine. As an example of this kind of application one can
mention the nuclear researches driven by CERN, (Centre Europeenne pour la
Recherche Nucleaire) Geneve where tens of thousands of computers
cooperate for solving a problem [4]. Just like in the case of the
imposition of the "www" term, CERN Geneva is one of the most
fervent supporters of the "Grid Computing" concept.
In the frame of
this concept, the accomplishment of an efficient distributed processing
at a global scale is possible only thanks to the progress recorded in the
implementation of high speed public networks [5] that should be
integrated in a "World Wide Grid". In this vision, the software
utilities will be distributed just like electricity (from which the term
"grid" comes) serving houses and companies located throughout
the European Union. In a concrete manner, there is the need to achieve a
system for resource coordination based on high quality protocols and
services but without using a centralized control.
Every nowadays
existing Grid is based on a combination of two basic architectures: a
protocol oriented architecture and a service-oriented architecture.
A grid was
illustrated in a schematic manner in Figure 1. It enables the sharing of
various resources, computer clusters including supercomputers, data
storage networks, Internet and other networks. The users that can access
these heterogeneous resources from both hardware and software point of
view, might be people using mobile access, computers working in houses or
companies. These access the resources by means of cable connections or
companies that require the grid's resources by using computers inside their
own local area networks. There is a layer called "Grid
Middleware", which stands between these users and the resources. Its
responsibilities are to hide the basic infrastructure, thus ensuring the
transparency of the resource usage, inter-system authentication, access
securing for both the users and the resources. From the existing
middleware packages, one that stands up is Middleware Globus Toolkit,
created by the Globus group [6], where Ian Foster and Carl Kesselman are
members, but there is also the European Data Grid Toolkit package.
The Grid
technology caught the attention of large software companies like
Microsoft (which offers compatible services through the .NET package),
ORACLE (data grids), IBM (the development of utility packages and
academic support initiatives), SUN (utility software). As an example, IBM
introduced Grid Computing capabilities within its newest version of
WebSphere and proposes Equinox as support program for academic
environment [7]. The first version of Linux with Grid oriented
capabilities is expected to be launched in 2008.
Regarding the
utility software for GRID systems there is a trend for extending the grid
user group towards various fields, including the economical and social
one by integrating the specific parallel and distributed software with
web technologies and knowledge management techniques.
European and
national projects
The GÉANT [8]
project plays a major role in Europe. It
integrates 26 national research networks. There are also other major
projects to be mentioned [9], like the Grid project EGEE (Enabling Grids
for E-Science in Europes) [10]. The
SEE-GRID network aims to provide an infrastructure for the
researchers from the South-East European states to take part in the
European and worldwide Grid initiatives by establishing interoperable
networks that will expand and support the European Research Area (ERA) in
theirs regions.
In Romania the RoGRID [11] Consortium was
created in 2002, as an initiative of the "Ministry of Information
Technology and Communication" and the "Ministry of Education
and Research", having ICI, "PolitehnicaÞ University of
Bucharest, the University
of Bucharest, IFIN
and INCAS as founding members.
In February 2006
the RoGRID Consortium and the "Ministry of Education and
Research" finalized the Grid developing strategy for Romania.
It is to be
mentioned both the European and national projects that have been
consulted for the elaboration of this proposal: the EU-NCIT [12] project
of the National Institute of Information Technology (UPB), the Academic
Grid for Complex Applications from the Technical University of Iasi, and
the GRID –SINRED project of the Bucuresti University
and ICI Bucharest.
REFERENCES
[1] Ian Foster,
Carl Kesselman, The Grid - Blueprint for a new computing infrastructure,
Morgan Kaufmann, 1999.
[2] Ian Foster, Carl Kesselman, and Steven Tuecke, The Anatomy of the
Grid: Enabling Scalable Virtual Organizations, http://www.globus.org/research/papers/anatomy.pdf
[3] http://gridcafe.web.cern.ch/gridcafe
[4] Fran Berman, Geoffrey Fox, Tony Hey (editori), Grid Computing.
Making the Global Infrastructure a Reality, John Wiley & Sons,
2003 (ISBN 0470853190).
[5] Richard S. Morrison, Cluster Computing Architectures, Operating
Systems, Parallel Processing & Programming Languages , format
electronic, sub licenta GNU, 2003.
[6] http://www.globus.org
[7] http://www.ibm.ro
[8] The GÉANT project – http://www.dante.net/server/show/nav.007
[9] http://cordis.europa.eu/ist/grids/projects.html
[10] http://www.eu-egee.org
[11] www.rogrid.ro
[12] "INTEGRATING AND STRENGTHENING THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH
AREA", EU-NCIT, Project EU- FP6-2004-ACC-SSA-2
[13] The CEEX "Academic GRID for complex applications" project,
contract: 74 CEEX-II03/31.07.2006, coordinated by the Technical
University of Iaºi, http://www.tuiasi.ro
[14] The CEEX- "National system for digital resources management in
science and technology, based on GRID structures - SINERD" project,
coordinated by the University of Bucharest.
General goals
and specific goals of the project
General goal
€ Updating the existing Research and Development
infrastructure of the "ªtefan cel Mare" University from
Suceava, The Computer
Science Research
Center
(acknowledged by CNCSIS) by creating a high performance GRID site.
The main goal of
this project is the building of a GRID site that will be compatible with
the projects financed from European Framework Program.
The requirements
for the new GRID are: at least 72 processors with approximately 72 kSI2K
computer power and a storage capacity of 7 Tb. Other facilities are easy
maintenance, backup data storage, backup power and backup air
conditioning facilities (for details see the form A2.3 Equipment)
Thanks to the
high efficiency of the equipments that will be acquired the GRID that
would be created will be interconnected with other GRID's.
The main
beneficiaries of the GRIDs will be the R&D units and Higer Education
public institutions from tne North of the country.
Derived goals
developing the
research infrastructure by extending the existing Research and
Development infrastructure: the 32 nods existing cluster from the
"Programming of Distributed Systems" laboratory, created under
the cover of "The License Laboratories" of MEC in this
University; Improvement of the research capability and the capability
to use and offer scientific services specialized on high-tech fields of
the "ªtefan cel Mare " University of Suceava by
connecting the GRID with other GRIDs from the country (Technical
University of Iaºi, "Politehnica" University of Bucharest) and
outside the country.
The increase of
the usage degree of the public research infrastructure: extending the
research structures with multiple users, for both the grid which will be
created in the University
of Suceava and the
GRIDs that will connect to it.
Diagram of
Project Execution:The achievement scheme, the role and responsibilities
of each side involved (according to the plan of achievement – form A3.1).
The "ªtefan
cel Mare " University
of Suceava is
responsible with carrying out the following activities (according to
Annex nr. 1 at HG 1579/2002):
i) Building,
institutional developing and technological excellence: equipment for
research and development and parts of them:
- Investment goals studies (cluster of 72 computers);
- Acquisition of research and development equipment, including assembling
( the cluster, hardware and software);
- Putting into service;
- Training;
- The acquisition of consumable materials for the warranty period.
ii) Concluding
agreements for some technical consultancy/assistance services, expertise,
audit, including the one asked by ANCS.
iii)
Building a specialized web page, in both Romanian and English, where all
the information regarding the acquisitioned infrastructure, the financing
program and the way of usage for the third parties will be presented.
4.4. The
project results usage (estimating the project's expected results,
expected benefits) possible beneficiaries, attracting the youth
The following
results concordant to the effects expected by PNCDI 2 will be obtained by
achieving this investment:
- Increasing the
number of Research and Development institutions which benefit
from high performance equipment for high-end research (The University
of Suceava and any possible national beneficiaries that will connect
to the grid)
- By interconnecting
the GRID with other European grids, the University of Suceava
and any possible beneficiaries from the north side of the country
will benefit from accessing infrastructures, databases and
information.
- PhD students and
young teachers were attracted into the team responsible with the
achievement of this project. During this investment project they
will be trained for the management of " creation and consolidation
of R&D infrastructure projects".
- The University of Suceava will extend it
high-tech technological services, being able to offer a cluster and
a high quality grid together with the services that will be
implemented.
- The increase of the
number and importance of international partnerships by integrating
the grid with other similar European grids.
- Given the fact that
a medium sized university (about 11.000 students) will have the
chance to buy a high-performance computing architecture, there will
be a significant contribution made to the promotion of "the
ethics and chance equality in research and development"
The obtained
results will be estimated through result indices, which reflect direct
results of the investment in Research and Development:
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Criteria
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Quantization
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1. New investments
in the R&D infrastructure
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2 000 000lei
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2. The average degree of usage of the R&D
equipments
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100 %
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3. The
value of the investment made in infrastructure and communication
services
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2 000 000lei
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4. The
number of supported entities for increasing the offering capability of
experimental services (including potential beneficiaries)
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10
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5. The
number of scientific papers and communications
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2
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6. The
number of prospective study projects
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1
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7. The number of
projects / participants at international financed projects
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1
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In the project
activities' will take part 4 young PhD students. The Grid will be used in
the developing of disertations at the Master Program Computer Science and
Engineering.
Specifications
regarding ownership / access right assignment between the partners
involved in this project
All intellectual
ownership rights over the research made on this Grid belong to the
authoring research entities
Results
dissemination and access conditions for third parties (access program,
available documentation, conditions / access costs, the personal that
ensure usage).
The results
dissemination includes scientific papers publishing (Activity III.4),
mass-media briefing, the project web page (Activity I.2 ), and by
the organization of a Workshop after the interconnection of the Grid with
other national an Europeans similar grids (Activity III.5).
All the public higher
education institutes will have free access to the grid. With the private
partners special contracts will be concluded.
The way in which
the investment will lead to the involvement in international/European
projects
The achieved grid
will be compatible with projects financed by The European Framework
Programs. The GRID will be integrated in other European Grid's.
This way, with the
help of this powerful Grid and the computational resources that the
University of Suceava will have to offer to the European R&D, the "ªtefan cel
Mare" University of Suceava will become a reliable partner for European
R&D projects. The available resources will be interesting because it
is about new endowment, accomplished with high-tech equipment.
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