Session 3d, 6 May 2009 IST-Africa 2009 Copyright 2009 EPIKH Project The EPIKH Project Roberto Barbera University of Catania, INFN, and Consorzio COMETA

Session 3d, 6 May 2009 IST-Africa 2009 Copyright 2009 EPIKH Project

The EPIKH Project

Roberto Barbera

University of Catania, INFN,

and Consorzio COMETA

Italy


Outline

• Background and concepts

• The EPIKH project

• The GILDA t-Infrastructure– formats and services

• EPIKH training activities with GILDA

• Conclusion and outlook


Motivation, problem areaComputationally intensive research


Motivation, problem areaComputationally intensive research


Motivation, problem areae-Science

Virtual Organisations

• Applications• Data• Instruments

• e-Infrastructure


Motivation, problem areaThe Global Network


Motivation, problem areaThe Global Grid

EELA

OSG

TeraGrid

NAREGIEUMedGrid

BalticGrid

SEE-Grid

EUIndiaGrid

EUAsiaGrid

EUChinaGrid

DEISA

EGEE


Motivation, problem areaWorld digital inclusion (www.maplecroft.com)


Research ObjectivesThe EPIKH Project (www.epikh.eu)

• “Exchange Programme to advance e-Infrastructure Know-How” (EPIKH)– EU FP7- Marie Curie Actions – People - International Research Staff

Exchange Scheme (IRSES)

• Consortium “numbers”:– 23 partners;– 18 countries;– 4 continents (Africa,

Latin America, Asia, Europe);– 115 persons involved;– >650 researcher-months;– >500 secondments;

• Duration: March, 1, 2009 – February, 28, 2013 (48 months)

• EC contribution: 1,188,000 €


Research ObjectivesThe EPIKH goals

• Strategic aims: – Reinforce the impact of e-Infrastructures in scientific research defining and

delivering stimulating programme of educational events, including Grid Schools and High Performance Computing courses;

– Broaden the engagement in e-Science activities and collaborations both geographically and across disciplines.

• Specific actions:– Spreading the knowledge about the “Grid Paradigm” to all potential users:

both system administrators and application developers through an extensive training programme;

– Easing the access of the trained people to the e-Infrastructures existing in the areas of action of the project;

– Fostering the establishment of scientific collaborations among the

countries/continents involved in the project.


Research approach, MethodologyThe Triangle of Knowledge

Research & Development

InnovationEducation & Training

Building e-Infrastructures is a waste if we don’t “build”, at the same time, their users.

Along with e-Infrastructures, t-Infrastructures are also needed.

e-In

fras

truc

ture

t-Infrastructuret-Infrastructure


Research approach, MethodologyGILDA: the “de facto” standard t-Infrastructure of EPIKH

GILDA: Grid INFN Laboratory for Dissemination Activities

https://gilda.ct.infn.it

GILDA is a complete Grid test-bed fully devoted to

demonstrate/disseminate Grid computing

GILDA is an international effort funded by multiple sources

GILDA is adopted by several Grid projects worldwide

It runs the latest version of the gLite middleware and support other

middleware such as Condor, Globus, UNICORE, etc.

Using GILDA is free of charge


Research approach, MethodologyThe GILDA formats and services (https://gilda.ct.infn.it)

• Training on Grid– Tutorial for Users– Tutorial for Site Admin– Grid Schools– Tutorial for Trainers/Customized events– University courses (Degree, Ms.C, Ph.D, etc.)– Training materials: Wiki pages, Printable Documentation, Demos, Videos, etc.

• Grid Application development– Support to Grid application development– Deployment of the applications into the GENIUS and P-GRADE grid portals– GILDA Ticketing support system

• Infrastructure– GILDA CA– GILDA VOMS– Creation of pilot test-beds: EELA, EUMED, EUCHINA, EUINDIA, SAGRID, etc.– Testing and development on new available gLite services– Dedicated Software repository/Virtual services (INFN Grid)– Monitoring (GridICE, GStat, SAM, etc. )

(New) Remote site installationSuccessfully tested in Mexico (New) Remote site installationSuccessfully tested in Mexico


Research approach, MethodologyUsers’ assistance

• Training material– Wiki page– Video tutorials– Step by step instructions

• Support system • GILDA Forge


Research approach, MethodologyGILDA in numbers

>1000 users registeredin the GILDA VO

>14,000 certificates issued since 2004.More than 30% renewed at least once.

>350 tutorials in 54 countries since 2004.

Up to 6 at the same time!

123456


Grid Training already done in Africa with GILDA

EELA-2 Grid tutorialLilongwe (Malawi) – 13.11.08

2nd SAGrid Workshop & TutorialDurban – 11-13.12.08

HP/UNESCO/EGEE Grid tutorialJohannesburg – 28-29.03.08

1st SAGrid Workshop & TutorialCape Town – 25.07.08 01.08.08

Almost 100 people trained on e-Infrastructure

from Algeria, Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi,

South Africa, Uganda, United Arab Emirates,

and Zimbabwe


Research approach, MethodologyEPIKH training activities with GILDA (1/2)

1-week tutorials for site administrators (with remote installations)


Research approach, MethodologyEPIKH training activities with GILDA (2/2)

Grid Schools 2 entire weeks devoted to applications’ “gridification”call for applications widely open

Eight 1-month Grid & HPC schools

and related thematic workshops

foreseen in Africa in the period 2009-2012!


Major outcomes/resultsApplications’ “virtuous cycle”

Dissemination Training events

“Gridification”Deployment on largeInfrastructures and

inclusion in the portfolio of demonstrative applications


Major outcomes/resultsExamples of GILDA “demonstrative” applications

RASTER-3D

DEM-2-VRML

GATE


Conclusion and outlook

• African scientific communities can benefit from EPIKH and use GILDA to “gridify” and run applications of local interest;

• Thanks to EPIKH activities, African Organisations can setup “clones” of GILDA locally to implement campus grids or even nation-wide e-infrastructures (good examples are already existing both in South Africa and Cuba);

• EPIKH/GILDA can offer free technical support for anyone willing to organize local training events on Grid computing– It can be undergraduate courses, M.Sc. courses, Ph.D. curricula,

tutorials, Grid Schools, etc.


Thank you very much ! Any questions ?


Useful bookmarks

EPIKH home page

– http://www.epikh.euGILDA home page

– https://gilda.ct.infn.itGILDA Support System– http://gilda-support.ct.infn.it

GILDA Form for tutorial bookings– http://gilda-support.ct.infn.it

GILDA Repository of Training Material– https://grid.ct.infn.it/twiki/bin/view/GILDA/WebHome

ICEAGE Library– http://www.iceage-eu.org/library

GILDA Virtual Services– https://gilda.ct.infn.it/VirtualServices.html

Documents

Session 3d, 6 May 2009 IST-Africa 2009 Copyright 2009 EPIKH Project The EPIKH Project Roberto Barbera University of Catania, INFN, and Consorzio COMETA