DataTAG

Research and Technological Development for a Transatlantic Grid

Abstract

Several major international Grid development projects are underway at present both within the European Community, and in the USA. All of these projects are working towards the common goal of providing transparent access to the massively distributed computing infrastructure that is needed to meet the challenges of modern experiments such as the data intensive LHC (Large Hadron Collider at CERN) applications, as well as applications in other disciplines such as Earth Sciences and Bio-informatics. The DataTAG project will create a large-scale intercontinental Grid testbed that will focus upon advanced networking issues and interoperability between these intercontinental Grid domains, hence extending the capabilities of each and enhancing the worldwide programme of Grid development. The project will address the issues which arise in the sector of high performance inter-Grid networking, including sustained and reliable high performance data replication, end-to-end advanced network services, and novel monitoring techniques. The project will also directly address the issues which arise in the sector of interoperability between the Grid middleware layers such as information and security services. The advance made will be disseminated into each of the associated Grid projects.

ObjectivesThe fundamental objective of the DataTAG project is to create a large-scale intercontinental Grid testbed involving the EC DataGRID project, several national projects in Europe, and related Grid projects in the USA such as GriPhyN, PPDG and iVDGL.

This will allow to explore advanced networking technologies as well as interoperability issues between different Grid domains..

FigureSimplified view of interconnections between the DataTAG partners, with some related 2.5 Gbps transatlantic circuits. The 2.5 Gbps DataTAG circuit between CERN and STARLIGHT will be used as a dedicated “bridge” between EU and US Grid projects.

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GEANT

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STARLIGHT

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Internet2

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Internet2

2.5Gbps

Project name:DataTAG

Contract no.: IST-2001-32459

Project type: Shared Cost RTD

Start date: 01/01/2001

Duration: 24 months

Total budget: 3.98 Є

Funding from the EC: 3.98 Є

Total effort in person-month:378

Web site: http://www.datatag.org

Contact person:Dr. Olivier H. Martinemail: Olivier.Martin@cern.chtel.: +41-22-767-4894fax.: +41-22-767-7155

Project participants:CERN IntINFN Italy

PPARC UKUvA Netherlands

Key words:GridNetworksScientific ResearchTelecommunications

Collaboration with other ECfunded projects: DataGRIDGéantGridstart

Technical Approach

The DataTAG project is organized into 6 Work Packages. Work Package 1 deals with the procurement and operations of the 2.5 Gbps circuit between CERN and the new StarLight Internet Exchange located at Northwestern University in Chicago. The EU, the US National Science Foundation (through the University of Illinois Chicago) and the US Department of Energy (through Caltech, the California Institute of Technology) are partners in the circuit. In addition, the DoE contributes hardware and manpower for the US end of the DataTAG circuit. In collaboration with GEANT and the National Research and Education Networks (NREN) involved, the DataTAG partners will have transparent access to the DataTAG circuit. Other related European Grid projects could also apply for such connectivity. Work Packages 2 & 3 deal with Grid related network research in the field of transport protocols, inter-domain Quality of Service (QoS), advance reservation techniques possibly using sub-lambda switching multiplexers, performance validation, monitoring, end to end user performance and application performance. Work Package 4 deals with interoperability between Grid domains. Work Packages 5 & 6 deal with Information dissemination, Exploitation plan & Management.

Testbed

The DataTAG circuit will provide a unique testbed for advanced network research and demonstrations focusing, in particular, on very high speed single stream performance, QoS and advance bandwidth reservation techniques.

Work Package 4 will also use it to deploy real applications in different Grid domains in order to verify the interoperabilty and the scalability.

Applications

Early data Grids applications, like High Energy Physics ones, characterised by intensive data access, from both sides of the Atlantic will be tested in an intercontinental context for the first time.

Innovation

The DataTAG project has many innovative components as outlined below:

•High performance intercontinental connectivity:•establishing an intercontinental research network is the first step towards enabling testing of intercontinental Grids in a real-world high bandwidth context.

•High performance networking research for the Grid:•in order to best utilise high bandwidth intercontinental connectivity specific networking issues must be addressed. The DataTAG project will study which transport protocols are best suited to bulk data transport, mechanisms for the provisioning of Quality of Service and approaches to advance bandwidth reservation, across multiple domains.

•Bulk data transfer and application performance monitoring:•innovative monitoring tools are required to measure and understand the performance of high speed intercontinental networks and their potential on real Grid application.

•Middleware integration and scaling:•joining together Grid research efforts on both sides of the Atlantic is a fundamental requirement if we are to build global Grids. The DataTAG project will address those problems that arise (i.e. interoperability and scaling) as this is attempted for the first time.

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