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e-ScienceTalk has launched Volunteer Garage

2012-05-11T07:28:18Z

Let us introduce you to Volunteer Garage, a new website on volunteer computing, developed by the e-ScienceTalk project. Volunteer Garage provides information on the history, nuts and bolts, middleware, and involved projects in volunteer computing with a lot of background from the developers of this groundbreaking way of raising computing power for science. Do have a look at http://www.volunteer-computing.org/

XtremWeb 8.0.2 has been released

2012-05-08T11:08:56Z

DEGISCO and EDGI partner Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) has released XtremWeb 8.0.2.

The following corrections have been introduced:

on the server side, the scheduling has been improved: hosts.incomingconnection is now taken into account to ensure a server like job is not sent to a volunteer resource where incoming connections are not allowed
on the server side, the scheduling has been improved: restoring a feature from XtremWeb 1.8.0 by INRIA: "expected host" so that the end user can specify at submission time the expected volunteer resource to run the job. Note, that if the expected host does not request a job or does not match the requirements (OS, CPU...), the job is never computed.
the DG to SG bridge is now compatible with shared applications so that VirtualBox on EGI resources can be used
some bugs corrected on client side regarding application registration and task management
a bug corrected on temporary file usage: they are now cleaned at software exit
the REST interface has been completely rewritten

New features include:

1. The creation of new Live CD can be customized

This is done by providing several optional files:

a text file 'user.packages' may be provided to install custom packages: this file must contain a space separated packages list
a text file 'user.hostname' may be provided to customize the LiveCD hostname: this file must contain the host name only
any package files are installed on the fly (*.rpm or *.deb, depending on the LiveCD OS)

2. The client can now be used to create SmartSockets end point, independently of any task

This may be useful to create SmartSockets tunnel from a running VM to the client PC

e.g. mount the client FS inside the running VM

3. A new Mac OS X package "xwhep.vworker" to deploy the middleware inside a VM

Positive Feedback for "Desktop Grids and UNICORE" presentation at Unicore Forum Meeting

2012-04-04T07:38:44Z

Prof. Dr.-Ing. André Brinkmann from the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz received a very positive feedback for his presentation on Desktop Grids and UNICORE during the Unicore Forum Meeting on March 26, 2012. The Unicore Forum Meeting was colocated with the EGI Community Forum, held March 26-30, 2012 in München, Germany.

Call for Participation: SCI-BUS, SHIWA, EDGI joint Summer School on Workflows and Gateways for Grids and Clouds

2012-03-30T08:07:54Z

Three ongoing FP7 projects - SCI-BUS, SHIWA and EDGI, organize a summer school in Budapest between 2 and 6 July 2012 to demonstrate various aspects of user support for the European Grid and Cloud infrastructures. There are already several well established Grid and Cloud infrastructures in Europe. The next issue is how to exploit these infrastructures, how to port and develop application for these infrastructures and how to extend their user communities. The main goal of this summer school is to give answers for these questions and to promote best practice examples for potential application developers and users of e-science infrastructures. More information is available at http://www.lpds.sztaki.hu/summerschool2012/

Successful results from the Vina application

2012-03-14T12:08:20Z

The University of Westminster now successfully runs the Vina application. The video below was prepared based on the results of AutoDock. Vina runs on the University of Westminster local Desktop Grid. The AutoDock Vina application was ported to DG by EDGI. The short video is showing possible ligands (in red) of a family 38 Mannosidase. The dockings have been produced on the University of Westminster Desktop Grid out of approximately 180,000 small molecules. The video shows the 9 best results. To create this short video approximately 1 CPU year computation was required.

Vina application

First release of XtremWeb-HEP 8

2012-02-22T13:51:32Z

Oleg Lodygensky from the Laboratoire de l'Accélérateur Linéaire in Orsay, Paris announced the first release of XtremWeb-HEP 8. This version allows the deployment of virtual machines over desktop grid. The release is available at
http://www.xtremweb-hep.org/spip.php?rubrique15. The documentation is available at http://www.xtremweb-hep.org/spip.php?rubrique16 and a video tutorial at http://www.xtremweb-hep.org/spip.php?article233.

Register for 14th IDGF tutorial at Johannes Gutenberg Universität in Mainz

2012-02-12T09:53:26Z

Desktop Grid resources can now be officially accessed as part of the German D-Grid infrastructure through UNICORE interfaces. The European Desktop Grid Initiative EDGI will therefore organize a two days’ workshop from March 1st to March 2nd at the Johannes Gutenberg-University in Mainz to give an introduction on how to build up Desktop Grids and how to port applications to be used in Desktop Grids.

Outline of the programme:
Day 1 - 1st March:
- An introduction to Desktop Grids, EDGI and IDGF - presentation
- A general introduction to BOINC - presentation
- Installation of a BOINC server/client - hands-on
- Application porting to BOINC (methodology, DCI API, GenWrapper) - presentation
- Porting applications with GenWrapper - hands-on
Day 2 - 2nd March:
- Porting applications with GenWrapper cont. - questions, answers - hands-on
- User interfaces (portals and command-line options)
- The EDGI infrastructure, bridging from g-Lite/UNICORE to BOINC - presentation
- Team work, consultancy - discussing and analyzing migration options of candidate applications - hands-on

Attendance at the workshop is free, but the number of attendees is limited to 30 people.

You can register for this workshop at http://desktopgridfederation.org/registration13

EDGI Desktop Grids are now officially D-Grid Resources

2012-01-19T11:08:14Z

The Technical Advisory Board of the D-Grid GmbH - the major coordination instance of grid infrastructures in Germany, partner of the German National Grid Initiative - has officially approved to allow any German computing center to provide EDGI D-Grids as a D-Grid UNICORE computing resource. Therewith effectively any German scientist can use Desktop Grid resources as the other Service Grid resources, because of the transparency of the UNICORE extension. EDGI Desktop Grids have still to be provided inside the D-Grid security environment; but this will be coming soon.

EDGI signs Memorandum of Understanding with EGI-Inspire

2011-12-02T13:55:15Z

On 22 November 2011, Steven Newhouse signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of EGI with EDGI, represented by Peter Kacsuk. EDGI is deploying desktop grid (DG) and cloud services for EGI heavy user communities. The project will provide a workflow-oriented science gateway to enable easier access to the e-infrastructure and establish the International Desktop Grid Federation (IDGF) to coordinate DG-related activities in Europe and to attract volunteer DG resource donors. With this agreement, the EDGI production infrastructure will be offered as a service for EGI and NGI user communities, “thus enabling and exploiting the possibilities lying within volunteer and institutional desktop grid computing for a wider scientific user community", according to Peter Kacsuk. At the same occasion, Peter Kacsuk also signed an MoU between EDGI and the e-ScienceTalk project, represented by Catherine Gater.

EDGI presented at RCUK Cybersecurity Research Showcase

2011-11-22T18:29:17Z

On 23 November 2011, the EDGI project will be presented in a poster at the RCUK Cybersecurity Research Showcase in London, UK. The Research Councils UK (RCUK) has identified research into cybersecurity as a priority for its Global Uncertainties programme. This showcase event is bringing together UK academic researchers and problem owners to share information on current activities, issues and research programmes in cybersecurity. The EDGI poster is showing how Desktop Grids and distributed networks can contribute to greater security in cyberspace.

IDGF marketing at SC11 in Seattle

2011-11-18T12:53:16Z

The International Desktop Grid Federation is getting quite some exposure at SC11 in Seattle, Washington, November 12-18, 2011 at booth #2639 of the Hungarian Grid Competence Centre.  You can find the IDGF poster there.  For more explanation, IDGF-representative Robert Lovas is present at SC11 for MTA SZTAKI. MTA SZTAKI provides high level grid gateways, application porting support and turn-key solutions for grid users. As the project coordinator of several EU projects, its research and support activities focus on Desktop Grids, Clouds, and work flow interoperability.

Post Doc position available at INAF in Catania, Sicily

2011-11-15T11:01:59Z

A 1 year - renewable - position for a Post Doc is available at the INAF - Astrophysical Observatory of Catania, Sicily, Italy, to work in the HPC and Visualization Laboratory. The position is expected to start in January 2012. The applications should arrive at the Observatory no later than 9 December 2011. This post is for the SCI-BUS Project. SCI-BUS will create a generic-purpose gateway technology that will provide seamless access to major computing, data and networking infrastructures and services in Europe. DCIs represented in the project include clusters, supercomputers, Grids, Desktop Grids, academic and commercial Clouds. SCI-BUS will elaborate an application-specific gateway building technology and a customization methodology based on which user communities can easily develop their customized gateways. The framework will facilitate reuse and exchange of generic and application-specific gateway components not only among the project partners but also to other projects that use Liferay technology. The gross salary is 28,000 Euros per year that correspond to a net salary of about 1,850 Euros per month. More information is available at http://www.oact.inaf.it/weboac/concorsi_it.html under the item "Post Doc vacancy 70/11".

University of Westminster to hire reseach assistant in distributed, Grid and Cloud computing

2011-10-25T13:47:21Z

A 2 year position for a researcher in distributed, Grid and Cloud computing is available at the University of Wetminster London at the Centre for Parallel Computing (CPC) in the School of Electronics and Computer Science. The researcher will undertake research and development within the framework of EU and UK Research Council funded projects in distributed computing infrastructure (DCI). The post arises specifically to deliver several EU FP7-funded projects. The postholder will play a key supporting role in: porting and supporting the development of scientific applications and work flows to Cloud-based DCI's; supporting research scientist end-users; and supporting, developing and enhancing the Cloud-, Grid-, multicore- and GPU-based infrastructure of the CPC. This researcher assistant position has a duration of 2 years with a fixed term contract. Closing date for application is Friday 4 November 2011. The interview date is set on Friday 25 November 2011. More information is available at http://www.wmin.ac.uk/hrvacancies/default.aspx

EDGI and VENUS-C sign MoU at EGI Technical Forum in Lyon

2011-09-30T08:43:23Z

On Friday 23 September 2011, EDGI and VENUS-C have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the EGI Technical Forum in Lyon, France. "As part of this new cooperation agreement with EDGI, VENUS-C will provide support and access to Cloud resources, including two Pilots recruited through the Open Call, while benefiting from EDGI support to interested users of VENUS-C. We are very excited about creating closer links with EDGI as part of a 'win-win' strategy that will generate new know-how by sharing experiences gained on both sides", stated Andrea Manieri, VENUS-C Project Director. "The partner agreement with VENUS-C is quite essential for EDGI as it will bring the Desktop Grid infrastructure into the Cloud. VENUS-C will provide EDGI with the required Cloud resources, thus allowing EDGI to improve the Quality of Service of its production infrastructure. On the other hand, EDGI is most happy to assist VENUS-C in deploying in the Cloud images of OpenNebula with BOINC client applications. In this way, both partners will deliver best-of-class efforts to reinforce and integrate the European Cloud and Desktop Grid infrastructures", added Peter Kacsuk, EDGI Project Coordinator.

Andrea Manieri (VENUS-C) and Peter Kacsuk (EDGI) shake hands after signing the MoU.

EDGI and EMI sign MoU at EGI Technical Forum in Lyon

2011-09-29T11:34:23Z

On Wednesday 21 September 2011, EDGI and EMI - European Middleware Initiative - have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the EGI Technical Forum in Lyon, France. This MoU with EMI will help EDGI to support the development of 'bridge middleware' federating service grids with desktop grids. EDGI will have facilitated early access to EMI releases. The collaboration will also allow to set up an OLA between EMI and EDGI.

Alberto di Meglio (EMI) and Peter Kacsuk (EDGI) shake hands after signing the MoU.

EDGI project meeting in Sicily

2011-09-14T11:23:29Z

The next EDGI project meeting will take place October 11-14, 2011 in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. The registration fee for the meeting is 110 euro.

Invitation to register for the 9th IDGF Workshop

2011-09-09T12:14:54Z

The programme for the ninth IDGF tutorial and workshop has been finalized. The ninth IDGF tutorial and workshop is co-located with the EGI Technical Forum 2011. It will be held September 23, 2011 at the Lyon Conference Centre in Lyon, France in room Rhone I between 9h00 and 12h00. The session consists of four parts: a training session; Desktop Grids intro and IDGF overview; Infrastructure overview; and Case studies. You are welcome to register at http://tf2011.egi.eu/registration/

Registration now open for 8th IDGF Workshop

2011-07-22T09:29:10Z

The 8th IDGF Workshop will be held August 17, 2011, 14h-18h in Hannover, Germany. This workshop is organized by the International Desktop Grid Federation and by SZTAKI for the European chapter. It is co-located with the 7th BOINC Workshop that will take place on August 18-19. This workshop is focused around the Desktop Grids for eScience Roadmap - a new version has just been published - and a panel session on issues and opportunities in Desktop Grids. The workshop will provide a platform for scientific users, Desktop Grid operators, system administrators and application developers to exchange experiences about Desktop Grids and related technology. More information and a registration form are available at http://desktopgridfederation.org/8th-idgf-workshop.

XtremWeb-HEP 7.5.0 released

2011-07-18T09:38:09Z

Oleg Lodygensky from the Laboratoire de l'Accélérateur Linéaire in Orsay, Paris announced that Version XWHEP 7.5.0 of XtremWeb-HEP has been released. This version improves security and end user experience. It supports MS Windows XP and 7 and removes Attic protocol support due to some Attic problems. More information is available at http://www.xtremweb-hep.org/spip.php?article30.

New edition of Desktop Grids for eScience Road Map now available

2011-07-13T10:16:52Z

EDGI's sister project DEGISCO has released a new edition of the Desktop Grids for eScience Road Map on July 11, 2011. The document is comprised of two parts. The first part constitutes a bird view of all the relevant topics to be considered when setting up a Desktop Grid infrastructure. This management part is addressed to political stakeholders and the general public. The second part offers a detailed and step-by-step description in five chapters of all the challenges and issues to be solved including relevant links to background information and practical examples. This technical part is aimed at Desktop Grid operators, scientific users, the academic user community, legal experts, and volunteer computing organisations. The Road map documents are available in the IDGF download section.