Access Grid Conference Facility At Boston University

1. Access Grid Conference FacilityAt Boston University Jennifer Teig von Hoffman Boston University jtvh@bu.edu

2. Introduction to the Access Grid • A suite of hardware, software, and tools to facilitate group-to-group collaboration over the Internet. • A project led by Argonne National Laboratory Futures Group, with strong participation from National Computational Science Alliance and others • Boston University is an Alliance member • Boston University is one of many organizations actively involved in packaging and documentation of Access Grid, as well as an active user National Computational Science Alliance

3. Introduction to the Access Grid (2) • Group-to-Group Collaboration at a Distance • Provide a Sense of Presence • Enable Complex Multi-site Visual and Collaborative Experiences • Use Quality but Affordable Digital IP-Based Audio/Video Source: Adapted from Rick Stevens,Chautauqua 1999 Presentation National Computational Science Alliance

4. Virtual Venues: The Metaphor National Computational Science Alliance

5. AGCF Current Installation • Four commodity PCs • Two running Windows • Two running Red Hat linux • Three projectors, custom built rear-projection screen • Audio mixers and echo-cancellation devices • Speakers, cameras, microphones • Connection to Abilene network • Cost: About $60,000, including upgrades since summer 1999 • hardware/software/equipment only – network notincluded National Computational Science Alliance

6. Networking Requirements • Multicast-enabled100bT connection tothe AG node • 100 Mbit/sec pathto the Internetfrom the node National Computational Science Alliance

7. AG-Based Events at BU Five Alliance Chautauquas – A conference by and for computational scientists 1999: University of New Mexico; University of Kentucky; Boston University 2000: OSC; University of Kansas National Computational Science Alliance

8. AG-Based Events at BU (2) • Workshops and Seminars on computational science • Asynchronous MPI course focus group • PETSc workshop • MPI workshop • Globus workshop by Argonne National Laboratory • Lecture series by ACCESS-DC • Lecture series by University of Kentucky • Paradyn/Condor Days from University of Wisconsin National Computational Science Alliance

9. AG-Based Events at BU (3) • Remote collaboration by organizations within and outside of the Alliance (partial listing) • Alliance Chemical Engineering Team • Alliance Czars • Boston University Teaching and Learning Technology Roundtable • Distributed Rap Sessions, sponsored by Coalition to Diversify Computing • EOT NSF site review • Institute for African-American E-Culture • PACS • SC Global planning group National Computational Science Alliance

10. AG-Based Events at BU (4) • Boston Cyberarts Festival • “Soft, Fluffy, and Virtual,” in collaboration with Cindy Ludlam • “Tracer,” in collaboration with Deborah and Richard Cornell National Computational Science Alliance

11. Successes • 400+ local participants; 900+ remote • Enabled many interactions which would not have been likely (or possible) without remote collaboration technology • Boston University Teaching and Learning Technology Roundtable benefited from OSC and ANL presentations • Distributed Rap Sessions • Alliance PACS Training workshops National Computational Science Alliance

12. Successes (2) • Good feedback and evaluations from event participants • BU Participation in Chautauqua 2000 at KU • 85% of respondents said they would participate from an AG site again; the remainder said they “probably” would • Alliance PACS Training PETSC workshop • “The AG was almost like being there.” • Alliance PACS Training MPI workshop • Workshop: 4.64 out of 5; technology: 4.65 out of 5 • Evaluation summary: http://alliance.osc.edu/mpi/report.pdf National Computational Science Alliance

13. Some Research Directions • Improved frame rate on video streams (possibly motion jpeg) • Continuing to address the question of H.323 bridge • Improvements for Distributed PowerPoint (or replace dppt with rppt, from University of Kansas) • Creation of additional desktop sharing and scientific visualization tools • Human Factors studies • Distributed venues servers National Computational Science Alliance

14. AG Toolkit 1.0 • Released September 2001 • Available by internet download • http://www.accessgrid.org/ • Toolkit includes: • Windows installation program • Linux installation program (including OS) • Guides and How-To documents for new users • BU is an active participant in the creation and support of the Toolkit National Computational Science Alliance

15. Coming Soon: SC Global • The first truly global technical conference on the grid • Will use AG technology tolink core Supercomputingconference in Denver withdozens of constellation sitesboth across the US andworldwide • 34 participating sites in 10 countries National Computational Science Alliance

16. SC Global Challenges • At least four concurrent tracks of content • Technical support • Program/content support • Extensive use of Voyager, a multimedia server for recording AG sessions • Time zones • Crossing language and culture boundaries National Computational Science Alliance

17. Getting Started • Access Grid Home Pagehttp://www.accessgrid.org/ • Access Grid Documentation Projecthttp://www.accessgrid.org/agdp/ National Computational Science Alliance