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WRF Portal: A Graphical Front- End for WRF. Mark Govett and Jeff Smith January 22, 2008. What is WRF Portal?. A GUI front end to WRF Java Based Platform independent. Runs anywhere Java does—Linux, Unix, Mac, Windows, etc. Uses Java Web Start, there are no installation requirements
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WRF Portal: A Graphical Front- End for WRF Mark Govett and Jeff Smith January 22, 2008
What is WRF Portal? • A GUI front end to WRF • Java Based • Platform independent. Runs anywhere Java does—Linux, Unix, Mac, Windows, etc. • Uses Java Web Start, there are no installation requirements • just click a web link and the software will run • Designed to simplify configuring and running WRF • Configuring and running a model like WRF is complicated and tedious • Numerous directories, namelists, and executable scripts to manage • Environment variables to set up and organize • Workflows to create • A GUI greatly simplifies this process, letting modelers and researchers focus on their science
Who should use the Portal? • Two classes of users • Black Box Users • Know little about the details WRF • Want quick easy way to make WRF runs • Run on desktop or local computer • Model Developer / Tester • Familiar with WRF and pre, post processes • May have own scripts, namelists etc • Wants to make hundreds to thousands of runs • Managing & making runs can be tedious, time-consuming, and error prone • Compare model output for forecast accuracy, anomalies • Incorporate systematic verification procedures
Basic Capabilities • Define Tasks • Users can select and edit their own scripts • Import namelists • Define environment variables used by scripts (eg. EXEC_LOC) • Combine Tasks to create Workflows • Use workflows to create Run Configurations • Define dates, batch system options • Execute the Run Configuration and Monitor the run(s) • Giving users valuable feedback on how their runs are progressing • Diagnoses errors • Can halt runs • Compare differences between workflows & run configurations defined in the Portal using the diff tool • Rerun workflows or add new dates • The portal stores the configurations, scripts, etc in a database
Workflow Management • Java Workflow Manager • Distributed with the Portal • Runs inside the portal • Ruby Workflow Manager • Runs on the server / super-computer • Requires separate installation • Highly Fault Tolerant • Useful to manage large numbers of runs and/or complex workflows
Getting Started • Download & Build WPS, WRF, Post, etc • Download & Configure Portal Software • Obtain the input data needed for initialization • Run Portal • Create Domain using WRF Domain Wizard • Define & Configure Tasks ( or use system tasks) • Import scripts, namelists, set environment variables, etc • Eg. - create a task to run WRF (run_wrf_ARW) • Construct Workflow • Using the defined tasks • Run Workflow • Using the defined workflow
Current Status • Development Completed • Runs WRF workflows using Java or Ruby workflow manager • Run locally, remotely connect to systems via SSH to run, monitor execution, etc • Extensive use by the DTC to make hundreds of model runs • Beta Release (March 2008) • Java workflow manager • Public Release • Will include the Ruby Workflow manager
Future Work • Graphical display for input / output • Add file dependencies to handle data retrieval from tape / MSS • Support for more complex workflows • Linear flows are insufficient • Ensemble Support • We already support other non-WRF models