Abstract: Current grid technologies offer unlimited computational power and storage capacity for scientific research and business activities in heterogeneous areas all over the world. Thanks to the grid, different virtual organisations can operate together in order to achieve common goals. However, concrete use cases demand a closer interaction between various types of instruments accessible from the grid on the one hand and the classical grid infrastructure, typically composed of Computing and Storage Elements, on the other. We cope with this open problem by proposing and realising the first release of the Instrument Element (IE), a new grid component that provides the computational/data grid with an abstraction of real instruments, and grid users with a more interactive interface to control them. In this paper we discuss in detail the implemented software architecture for this new component and we present concrete use cases where the IE has been successfully integrated.
Keywords: grid; instrument; Instrument Element; IE.
Authors: F. Lelli*, E. Frizziero, M. Gulmini, G. Maron, S. Orlando, A. Petrucci and S. Squizzato
We cope with this open problem by proposing and realizing the first release of the IE, a new grid component that provides the computational/data grid with an abstraction of real instruments, and grid users with a more interactive interface to control them. The main benefits of the proposed solution are: A highly modular and flexible solution: (a) The middleware deployment is organised into pluggable independent components. (b) The IE architecture is not tied to specific technologies or third-party software. (c) Multiple and independent I/O interfaces: Commands and Controls directed at Instruments, Fast Data Publishing, Data Movement to/from the grid.
- A highly modular and flexible solution: (a) The middleware deployment is organised into pluggable independent components. (b) The IE architecture is not tied to specific technologies or third-party software. (c) Multiple and independent I/O interfaces: Commands and Controls directed at Instruments, Fast Data Publishing, Data Movement to/from the grid.
- High scalability: (a) IE is portable to different platforms. (b) The target environment ranges from large farms to embedded devices.
- IE middleware aims to be used in production environments: Mature middleware has been used, whenever possible, to assure robustness and stability.
- Fine customisation of the IE: The IE is easily adaptable to diverse scenarios and needs.
- High level of abstraction in the IE interfaces: (a) Service Oriented Architecture (b) Adherence to standards: WS-I-compliant web services.
- EGEE (gLite) compatibility: Many grid facilities and tools can be reused, for instance GridFTP or SRM interface for data movement.
Cite this paper as:
Lelli, F., Frizziero, E., Gulmini, M., Maron, G., Orlando, S., Petrucci, A., & Squizzato, S. (2007). The many faces of the integration of instruments and the grid. International Journal of Web and Grid Services, 3(3), 239.
https://doi.org/10.1504/IJWGS.2007.014953
