VREs – Next Steps

1. VREs – Next Steps Tony Hey tony.hey@epsrc.ac.uk

2. Realizing Licklider’s Vision “Lick had this concept of the intergalactic network which he believed was everybody could use computers anywhere and get at data anywhere in the world. He didn’t envision the number of computers we have today by any means, but he had the same concept – all of the stuff linked together throughout the world, that you can use a remote computer, get data from a remote computer, or use lots of computers in your job. The vision was really Lick’s originally.” Larry Roberts – Principal Architect of the ARPANET

3. The e-Science Paradigm • The Integrative Biology Project involves the University of Oxford (and others) in the UK and the University of Auckland in New Zealand • Models of electrical behaviour of heart cells developed by Denis Noble’s team in Oxford • Mechanical models of beating heart developed in Auckland • Need to be able to build a ‘Virtual Organisation’ allowing routine access for researchers to specific resources in the UK and New Zealand

4. e-Infrastructure/Cyberinfrastructurefor Research Common Fabric Generic services Group A Resources Private Resources Group B Private Resources

5. Global Middleware Infrastructure • Global e-Science Infrastructure must support genuine needs of users/applications • To support ‘routine’ collaboration between institutions in different countries need set of robust middleware services and agreed ‘policies’ • Require global Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) Services • Need robust and secure middleware services supported on top of network services

6. Global Terabit Research Network Cyberinfrastructure = set of middleware services running on top of high performance global networks

7. What’s in a name? • US Cyberinfrastructure = EU e-Infrastructure • e-Science middleware infrastructure to support Internet-scale distributed applications will be built using Web Services technology • Scientists around the world are using the term ‘Grid’ to denote this Internet middleware infrastructure they are building • Note that present Grid middleware - e.g. from Globus – has little of the functionality required!

8. Identifiable UK Focus • Data Access and Integration • OGSA-DAI and DAIT project • Key grid data services • Workflow, Provenance, Notification • Distributed Query, Knowledge Management • Data Curation and Data Handling • Digital Curation Centre • Data Handling • Security, AA and all that • Short/Medium Term Problems • Medium/Long Term Issues

9. The Key Problem: Research Prototype Middleware to Production Quality • Research projects are not funded to do the regression testing, configuration and QA required to produce production quality middleware • Common rule of thumb is that it requires at least 10 times more effort to take ‘proof of concept’ research software to production quality • Key issue for UK e-Science projects is to ensure that there is some documented, maintainable, robust grid middleware by the end of the 5 year £250M initiative

10. The UK Open Middleware Infrastructure Institute (OMII) • Repository for UK-developed Open Source ‘e-Science/Cyber-infrastructure’ Middleware • Documentation, specification,QA and standards • Fund work to bring ‘research project’ software up to ‘production strength’ • Fund Middleware projects for identified ‘gaps’ • Work with US NSF, EU Projects and others • Supported by major IT companies • Southampton selected as the OMII site

11. Digital Curation Centre (DCC) • In next 5 years e-Science projects will produce more scientific data than has been collected in the whole of human history • In 20 years can guarantee that the operating and spreadsheet program and the hardware used to store data will not exist • Research curation technologies and best practice • Need to liaise closely with individual research communities, data archives and libraries • Edinburgh with Glasgow, CLRC and UKOLN selected as site of DCC

12. IBM, Microsoft and Web Services • Loose Coupling • Message Based • Platform neutral • Built on existing technologies • XML, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, etc • Focus on the interface • Interface separated from access and integration • Web Services are supported by every major IT company • Web Services ‘guaranteed’ to interoperate

13. Current Status of Information Management • Applications • Content • Meta Data & Delivery tools • Finding / Access tools • Authentication • E-science • Digital libraries • E-learning • Internet

14. How Far Can a Common Environment Go? • Applications • Content • Meta Data & Delivery tools • Finding / Access tools • Digital libraries • E-science • E-learning • Authentication etc • Internet

15. Field Trip Data ? Discovery Services RepositoriesFederated Databases Streaming Data Sensors Database Database Research Education SERVOGrid Data FilterServices Customization Services From Researchto Education ResearchSimulations Analysis and VisualizationPortal EducationGrid Computer Farm Geoscience Research and Education Grids

16. What’s in a name – Part 2? • VRE = Virtual Research Environment • CRE = Collaborative (e-)Research Environments • MRE = Managed Research Environments • …..??

17. Next Steps? • Report of two VRE meetings within 4 weeks • £3.2M from SR2002 to fund prototype ‘VRE’ • JCSR Sub-Group led by David Boyd tasked with taking input from these two meeting (and any other relevant sources) and to define a set of actions: • Some small immediate studies as needed • Draft call to be considered at JCSR Meeting on 16th June: call out as soon as possible after