Virtual Grid Supercomputer Goes (Partly) Online

hotsauce writes "The BBC is reporting that CERN (the guys who invented the Web) are working on a virtual supercomputer called the Grid. The Grid taps computing power from 12 countries to process data from a new supercollider that will simulate parts of the Big Bang. Phase One of the Grid just went online."

Comments

Don't diss it

[wodon]

I know it sounds like the world domination scheme from a bond film, but I've seen what it can do.

A friend of mine is working on part of the grid for his PHD in the uk
and once you have watched him transfer 700 MB files from the uk to
Switzerland in under a minute you realise that they aren't joking.

I guess their next step is running quake over it!

Re:Over-hyped

[grid geek]

I'm doing my PhD on it at the moment. While there is a lot of hype there is a lot more substance to it than there was 2 years ago.

For example we now have a single sign on system spread over more than a dozen countries (never easy when the gov wants to know why other countries scientists are using their machines.)

Loads of work has been done on integrating data resources into the network, large scale systems configuration, data discover etc.

As ever the BBC is a bit behind on the news - this is just a new releases of the software. And there had better be substance when LHC comes on line in 2007/8 as it will be generating 15, 000 TB of data to be stored a year and we need some way to deal with this.

Re:Over-hyped

[cperciva]

I'd go further than that. I've heard the EU DataGrid described as a perfect example of how not to run a large software project.

People working in half a dozen different languages (natural languages, that is, not programming languages!), a complete lack of chain-of-command, software being signed off on because a document detailing critical bugs had been produced (even though the critical bugs weren't fixed!), progress reports being sent back for revision because "they weren't positive enough"...

Take the worst elements of decentralized open-source programming, combine them with the worst elements of government beaurocracy -- and then replace half of the programmers with physicists who have less programming experience than most second year CS majors -- and you'll get somewhere close to what I've been told about the EU Datagrid.

Of course, this is all second-hand information. Maybe the person who was telling me all of this is just a burnt-out coder who would be unhappy with whatever project he was working on. But I doubt it.

Re:When will we do this ourselves?

[dkf]

if John Q. Terrorist uploads a model for generating anthrax yields, are all the other people liable for assisting in the production of biological weapons?

No, since as part of the Grid, everyone will have proof of who authorized the calculation; you'll be able to say to the Feds "I can prove it was John Q. Terrorist, Kabul."

Of course, the Feds will ask you why you were selling any compute time to JQT given that the Grid doesn't mean that you have to sell to all-comers (no more than you have to give Unix shell accounts to anyone who asks), but that's another matter...

Re:Over-hyped

[pubjames]

People working in half a dozen different languages (natural languages, that is, not programming languages!),

Welcome to reality. Reality for most of the rest of the world, that is.

In Europe we speak lots of languages. That's the reality of the situation. Of course this isn't as efficient as just speaking one language, but it is the reality. I know, as an American you're probably thinking "well why don't you all just speak English?"

I had a funny situation on the outskirts of San Francisco once. I asked a guy sweeping up outside a MacDonalds some directions. I replied in very stilted English that he couldn't understand me because he didn't speak English. I noticed his accent so I asked him my question in Spanish. The look of suprise and joy on his face was comical. He told me that most Americans can't speak another language and expect you to learn English, but not speaking another language themselves don't realise that learning another language isn't easy. And they treat you like crap and think you're stupid if you can't speak English. I don't know if what he said is true or not, but unfortunately I don't find it hard to believe.

Re:question

[Tybalta]

no, afaik.

the experiment to create artifical black holes is another story, but yes, it will take place in this Collider (LHC).

Anyway, you don't have to be afraid, black holes which doesn't reach the critical mass will "eat up" themselves (radiating out their energy to the environment), so they'll eventually evaporate ( according to Prof. Hawking. The experiment will only create very-very-very small black holes, which will "live" only for some nanosecundum or less ..
)

you should check out http://www.hawking.org.uk/ for more info.