GRACE Project IST-2001-38100

1. GRACE Project IST-2001-38100 EGAAP meeting – Den Haag, 25/11/2004Giuseppe Sisto – Telecom Italia Lab

2. Overview • Project title: GRACE (Grid Search and Categorization Engine) • FP5 • 1/9/2002 - 28/2/2005 (Duration: 30 m) • GRACE Website http://www.grace-ist.com

3. Partners • Both Industrial and Scientific: • Telecom Italia (TI) • GL Europe 2006 (GL) • European Organization for nuclear Research (CERN) • Sheffield Hallman University (SHU) • Stockholm University Library • Stuttgart University Library

4. Project Objectives • Research and Knowledge Management tool • Distributed search and categorization engine based on Grid Technology that enables just‑in‑time, flexible allocation of data and computational resources • Handles unstructured textual information (text files, documents, Web pages, text stored in databases) in GRID environment

5. Frontend Application Grid External Content Sources Search Results Parsing Text Normalizing Downloading Query Routing Search Results Displaying Query Submitting Categorizing Internal Content Sources Querying Application Workflow

6. Requirements • No special requirements to run GRACE Grid jobs: • no specific software to be installed • Current solution does not require the application to be permanently installed on the Grid • At present, it is sent through the job InputSandbox together with the input files • Need to provide transparent use of the Grid and easy access to the application, during validation phase. This could bring to some certification issue. GRACE therefore adopted a solution based on the use of an application generic certificate

7. GRACE Web Interface

8. Apr04 Mar04 Jan01 TB2 TB1 TB3 EGEE TB TB0 LCG-2 EDG 1.4 EDG 2 OGSA EDG 1 Globus 1 2001 2002 2004 2005 2003 Sep02 Feb05 Requirements Design Implementation Verification Validation Evaluation Deployment Basic Tests Timing • collaboration with EDG and EGEE in order to be constantly aligned with their plans and developments

9. Current Status • GRACE application prototype has been implemented based on LCG-2 Grid middleware • Two GRACE nodes have been added to the GILDA testbed with the support of the GILDA team • Infrastructure: • 2 sites : Turin (TI) and Milan (GL). An additional GRACE grid site at Sheffield (SHU) being explored • Partners’ Registration Authorities set up for TI in Turin and GL in Milan. SHU RA to be discussed • Software configured for GILDA VO, in collaboration with GILDA support team • The necessary user and server certificates have been obtained. • GRACE Grid sites tested and certified in GILDA

10. Current Status Grid Elements running in TILAB: Grid Elements running in GL2006:

11. Current Status • Application: • GRACE Grid jobs tested on GILDA • GRACE Grid jobs integrated with GRACE application interface through EDG Java API calls • First prototype demo available • The application still unstable -> needs further testing, optimization as well as the integration of other functionalities

12. Commitment in the next 6 Months By the end of the project (02/2005): • Final prototype integrating all GRACE functionalities • Output of validation and evaluation activity Objectives and future steps for the next few months are: • Integrate a number of relevant content sources related to the selected Knowledge Domains: Physics, Computer Science and Engineering. Other Knowledge Domains can easily be added afterwards • Add SHU site to the testbed • Complete performance tests • Run and complete the final validation and evaluation phase Support on the configuration of GRACE site in Sheffield and the finalization of GRACE performance tests on GILDA would be helpful for the project activity

13. Collaborations • GIR (GGF Grid Information Retrieval) • similar approach regarding architecture • GRACE more powerful as far as Multilingualism and Semantics / Ontologies are concerned, GIR more aligned with GGF/OASIS evolution • Exchange of Documention (D1.1 User Requirements) • GRACE representative in GIR • EGEE • Crossgrid • possible integration of Crossgrid tools to increase efficiency improve performances

14. Added Value for GRACE Community to run on EGEE • GRACE doesn’t have the necessary resources and expertise to deploy a fully functional Grid infrastructure • EGEE/GILDA represents for the project the major middleware and infrastructure provider • Run at an European-wide scale, enable just‑in‑time, flexible allocation of computational and data storage resources, making terabytes of information distributed on vast amounts of geographically distant locations highly accessible

15. Interest of EGEE in supporting the Application • GRACE is contributing to the infrastructure with the integration of some GRACE Grid nodes • One of the first applications, not part of EGEE pilot application group, to have integrated with EGEE infrastructure • GRACE has provided concrete and early feedback on the usage of the Grid • GRACE merges the interests of user scientific communities of different domains • GRACE can contribute to the dissemination of Grid awareness through new communities

16. Expected Outcomes • At the end of the project, GRACE will produce a fully functional prototype together with installation, configuration and usage instructions • GRACE represents a first experience of Information Retrieval over the Grid and will provide feedback to the IR and KM research communities

17. Next? • Toolkit Improvement (robustness, scalability,…) • Exploitation • Content Providers (Infoproviders, Libraries, Research Institutes,…) • Public Administration • Grid Infrastructure?

18. Contact Persons • Project Coordinator: Maurizio Cecchi (TI) Maurizio.Cecchi@TILAB.COM • Project Mailing List: grace-members@grace-ist.org • Grid integration: Roberta Faggian (CERN) Roberta.Faggian@cern.ch • TI Grid infrastructure: Giuseppe Sisto (TI) Giuseppe.Sisto@TILAB.COM • GL Grid infrastructure: Lorenzo Gianoli (GL) lorenzo.gianoli@gl2006europe.com • SHU Grid infrastructure: Mehrdad.Naderi (SHU) M.A.Naderi@shu.ac.uk