CQe SS VRE Workshop 4 Portals and VREs

CQe. SS VRE Workshop 4: Portals and VREs for Social Research Wednesday 22 nd June 2005 at 1 st International Conference for e-Social Science Manchester Conference Centre, Sackville Street, Manchester Rob Allan E-Science Centre, CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory Rob Crouchley, E-Science Centre, and Collaboratory for Quantitative e-Social Science, University of Lancaster

Why have a VRE ? VRE “to make the use of e-Science technologies, methodologies and resources easier and more transparent for users than simply developing bespoke applications on a generic infrastructure toolkit (such as Globus GT 2 or OGSI/ WSRF). ” We need to: • Bridge the gap between different types of technology (database management, computational methods, sensor Grids, networks, Condor resources, visualisation systems, collaborative working, Access Grid, etc. ); • Provide an environment to enhance the programmability and usability of such a Grid by integrating work from a number of ongoing research projects; • Add value to the Grid by implementing a VRE on the JCSR clusters and other research resources.

The Grid “Client Problem” VRE Many clients want to access a few Gridenabled resources Workplace: desktop clients Grid Core Middleware e. g. Globus Portable clients: phones, laptop, pda, data entry… Consumer clients: PC, TV, video, AG

Institutions need Autonomy and Security Host – client relationship VRE Example solution suggested by Web server - browser Communication must be initiated by client because of firewall around client’s institution. Can use a proxy or gateway.

VRE Options • Provide heavyweight functionality (Globus? ), but only on Grid-enabled hosts; • Implied need for client-server software architecture, e. g. : – Web-based portal with familiar browser – Client programming library, API in C, C++ Java, Perl, Python, R etc. – Ability to link to existing applications/ GUIs – Command-based shell interface – Drag and Drop interface (a la Mac) • Need a published set of services on Grid hosts – OGSA model, registry, semantics; • Need easy development and deployment framework for applications and client tools, e. g. using Web services encourage community contribution via an open process.

Repositories Federated Databases VRE Database Sensors Streaming Data Field Trip Database Research Data Filter Services Research Simulations Vision for Research and Education Grids SERVOGrid ? Discovery Services Education Customization Services From Research to Education Analysis and Visualization Portal Education Grid Computer Farm

VRE Workshop Timetable 9: 30 Introduction and Welcome – Rob Crouchley (University of Lancaster) 9: 45 An Introduction to Portal Technologies and Tools (Mark Baker, Portsmouth) 10. 30 JISC Sakai VRE project, tools and developments (Rob Crouchley, Lancaster) 11: 00 Virtual Research Environments and e-Social Science (Rob Allan, CCLRC Daresbury) 11: 20 Resources on the Grid (with 5 min discussion) - Rob Allan (CCLRC Daresbury), (10 mins only) 11. 30 Coffee Break 12: 00 What is the Iugo Project? (Paul Shabajee, Bristol) 12: 30 N-tier Authentication Use-Cases within E-Research Environments (Francisco Pinto, Oxford)

VRE Timetable (contd. ) VRE 13: 00 Lunch Break 14: 00 VRE for Social Sciences - Sakai and the TLRP (John Norman, Cambridge) 14: 30 Cheshire project: Information management, indexing, text mining (Paul Watry, Liverpool) 15: 00 Tea 15: 15 Discussion, Other presentations 16: 30 End of workshop

VRE Discussion Topics

VRE What was Discussed