Another player in grid technology opens up to Open source

I was browsing through the gridmeter at infoworld, when I noticed that Greg Nawrocki has written about the Activegrid moving it's tooling to eclipse environment. But the article header misleads, according to my humble opinion. Headline states "
Good News For Open Source Grid" but so far, most of the best grid systems and research have been open source. Activegrid itself is based on LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP/Python). But if you read through the site you will notice that author also thinks LAMP is the best platform for grid.
But the gridmeter brings out some thought provoking information about grid that it a browseble page for those who are interested in grid technology. But the success of grid, so far belongs to open source movement.

Tags: grid technology, grid, open source, LAMP, gredmeeter

Amazon's Rent-A-Grid in Beta

While everybody is busy with what they do, Amazon.com has started rolling out a grid service, an extension to it's S3 service released on March this year. It is called the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2).
The EC2 rate of a dime per instance-hour works out to $72 per month for the equivalent of a 1.7Ghz Xeon CPU with 1.75GB of RAM and 160GB of local disk. The bandwidth is extra, billed separately at the S3 rate of 20 cents per gigabyte. So for now, it is pricier than some dedicated hosting providers. As the serviceÂ’s name suggests, if you need an elastic capability that can nimbly grow or shrink, EC2 is the only game in town.
Or is it?
3Tera's AppLogic grid system, is a kissing cousin to EC2, but with a more sophisticated approach to configuring and managing bundles of Linux applications along with other so-called virtual appliances that encapsulate firewalls and load balancers. The AppLogic management console is a slick AJAX application that you use to wire up collections of these virtual appliances and clone them for reuse.
So the Grid and Grid Technology is becoming a part of everyday technology and perhaps people will go back to using terminals, of course more sophisticated terminals than tose I had connected to IBM mainframes.

Alchemi v.1.0.5 MP Beta released

The Gridbus project has released Alchemi v.1.0.5 MP Beta, which includes support for two 'message passing' programming models - MPI and BSP - for parallel applications on Windows machines running Alchemi v.1.0.5. Please also note that this one of the earliest .NET based Open Source Grid projects available from gridbus project.

This release includes a modified Manager and Executor to support the message passing model. The source is currently available on http://www.alchemi.net.
There is also a note regarding to source "will be hosted on sourceforge if and when someone is willing to manage and maintain it as a separate branch in the CVS." So if here is a kind soul familiar with Sourceforge CVS and Alchemi, please get in touch with the admins.

GRID 2006 is almost here

The 7th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Grid Computing
Barcelona, September 28th-29th 2006
he previous events in this series were: Grid 2000, Bangalore, India; Grid 2001, Denver; Grid 2002, Baltimore; Grid 2003, Phoenix; Grid 2004, Pittsburgh; and the sixth event, Grid 2005 in Seattle, which I attended and reported. I have registered for this too but having second thoughts, if I can nt have my notebook on the long flight.
All of these events have been successful in attracting high quality papers and a wide international participation. Last year's event attracted about 400 registered participants. From the second event through the sixth, we have been known as the Grid Workshop affiliated with the Supercomputing SC conference series. For this, our seventh event, we will convene our first meeting as a conference and this year we will be co-located with the 2006 cluster conference.

Registration is currently open and ends on september 4th.
Workshops!
4 workshops will be held as part of the Cluster2006 conference:

On Monday morning (25 September 2006), the following half-day workshops will take place:

* Multi-core Programming Topics for HPC Applications,
Organizers: Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC),
Contact: Karl W. Schulz (karl_at_tacc.utexas.edu)
* HiperIO: Workshop on high-performance I/O techniques and deployment of Very Large Scale I/O Systems,
Organizers/Contacts: Jesus Carretero (Jesus.carretero_at_uc3m.es), Barney Maccabe (maccabe_at_cs.unm.edu), and Felix Garcia (fgarcia_at_inf.uc3m.es)

On Thursday (28 September 2006), the following full-day workshops will take place, beginning after the Grid2006 keynote:

* HeteroPar'06: Fifth International Workshop on Algorithms, Models and Tools for Parallel Computing on Heterogeneous Networks,
Organizers/Contacts: Alexey Lastovetsky (alexey.lastovetsky_at_ucd.ie) and Domingo Gimenez (domingo_at_dif.um.es)
* RAIT 2006: Third Workshop on Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA): Applications, Implementations, and Technologies,
Contacts: Jim Pinkerton (jpink_at_windows.microsoft.com) and Hemal Shah (hemal_at_broadcom.com)

Here are important dates related to the conference;
September 1, 2006 Early registration deadline
August 4, 2006 Last-minute Technical Paper Submission Due
August 15, 2006 Last-minute Technical Paper Acceptance Notification
August 25, 2006 Last-minute Technical Paper final version Due
September 26-28,2006 Post-Conference Workshops and Tutorials
September 25-27,2006 Conference

The conference will be held in Spain and Barcelona is a beutiful place. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia. The city's two thousand year history has left its mark on Barcelona's architectural, artistic, and cultural heritage. Its excellent international communications, its Mediterranean climate, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere make is a privileged city indeed.

Barcelona is Europe's southernmost port, where Romans, Arabs, Christians, and other civilizations have given the city a multicultural flavor. Streets and squares are full of monuments and sculptures, both classic and Mediterranean, evidence of a great passion for art the makes Barcelona an open-air museum. Take part in the future of computing while indulging yourself in historical wonderland.

How to go to the center of the GRID! Oracle 10G that is!!

I have not been there but I did read an article at gridtoday "Management of Oracle RAC 10g"
The Oracle Real Application Clustering (RAC) model is revolutionizing the database landscape, providing a more flexible structure to scale databases while maintaining high availability on commodity hardware. However, a RAC environment requires complex coordination between various components of the data center, encompassing storage, the operating system, networking, cluster engine, and the database. This complexity poses significant challenges for even the most well-staffed and competent IT organizations.
GridApp's D2500 appliance eases management of Oracle RAC by providing rapid scalability, one-click cluster deployment and simplified management with a more dynamic graphical user interface. The combination of GridApp's appliance and Oracle RAC creates the industry's most advanced platform for clustered database computing, resulting in greater operational efficiencies, reduced costs and improved control and stability over database assets.

"Now more than ever, enterprises dealing with increasing amounts of data need to develop a new way of thinking about the management of their mission-critical database assets," said Rob Gardos, president and CEO of GridApp Systems. "GridApp is committed to serving Oracle users by providing innovative automation tools and services that enable organizations to take advantage of the world's most powerful and flexible database solution -- without the management challenges and resource headaches that plague today's IT departments."
If you are looking for a solution based on Oracle, checkout Gridapps offerings, you might get free RAC licenses! This it what I read on their site!
GridApp Systems has fundamentally transformed the reality of RAC deployment by offering the first complete, end-to-end solution for Oracle RAC. Instead of grappling with problems of storage, clusterware, filesystems, versions, operating system configuration, and other complex problems, GridApp’s database appliance makes RAC a snap to deploy and a dream to manage. And for a limited time we’re throwing in FREE Oracle RAC licenses, making the value unbeatable.

The Grid winner is rPATH! At Linux world --Best Utility Grid Computing Solution--

The Raleigh-based Linux software and unique Linux distribution company, rPATH, which I frequent to use rBuilder, to build my own distributions added another laurel to it's head.
Best Utility Grid Computing Solution! at the Linux Journal Product Excellence Awards at LinuxWorld San Francisco.
The award winning Software appliances enables Linux devices to be streamlined and formed in to a grid and it runs on standard industry hardware and in virtualization environments linking devices regardless of location or configuration.
This is not the only award rPATH received, it was also a finalist in two other categories: best virtualization solution and best open source solution.
Previously rBuilder was named Best Systems Management Tool at LinuxWorld in Boston.
The Best of the Show award went to novel's SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, which I use day to day and Best Virtualization Solution award went to IBM for its IBM Advanced Power Virtualization product.

Here are all the winners and what Judges had to say;
"All of the judges were very impressed by the nominations we received, it was a very difficult decision. We have seen many new innovations, and improvements on old favorites," commented Linux Journal Products Editor and Product Excellence Awards judge James Gray. Â"The open source community has been hard at work, and weÂ’re pleased to have the opportunity to recognize the advancements being made."

BEST INTEGRATION SOLUTION
NoMachine NX Server 2.0

BEST SYSTEM MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Open Country OCM 3.1

BEST SECURITY SOLUTION
Novell AppArmor

BEST OPEN SOURCE SOLUTION
Creative Commons ccHost

BEST UTILITY GRID COMPUTING SOLUTION
rPath rBuilder

MOST INNOVATIVE HARDWARE SOLUTION
Bivio 2000

BEST CLUSTERING SOLUTION
Greenplum Bizgres MPP

BEST VIRTUALIZATION SOLUTION
IBM Advanced POWER Virtualization

BEST APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM AND TOOL
Trolltech Qtopia Phone Edition 4

BEST DATABASE SOLUTION
EnterpriseDB Advanced Server

BEST DESKTOP SOLUTION
Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop

BEST MESSAGING SOLUTION
Zimbra Collaboration Suite

BEST OF SHOW
Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop
Awards were presented by Linux journal (of which I still have the first issue!!) in conjunction with IDG World Expo.

SURAgrid gets IBM Power spread over 27 universities.

IBM on 11th of this month said it has inked a three-year computing contract with SURAgrid, an initiative that 27 universities in the U.S. have undertaken to conduct scientific research experiments.
In the deal, Big Blue will provide System p575 Unix servers to members of the SURAgrid, which connects various computers at universities.
SURAgrid researchers test human genome sequencing and coastal storm modeling, among other things.
One specific project studies hurricane patterns via the SURA Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction program (SCOOP), funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
Each p575 system is powered by 16 1.9 gigahertz Power5+ processors. With IBM's AIX as the operating platform, the machines run middleware from grid group Globus.org to ensure that the different machines work together.
IBM said in a statement the machines could increase SURAgrid's compute capacity to 10 trillion floating points per second (teraflops) .
News comes from Grid computing planet.

Apple Opens up (kernel) and we see no Worm!

In its efforts to support open source community, Apple has, this week, opened up the kernel source for OS X Intel build. The release of OS X's kernel source marks a huge step forward for developers. The source for the PowerPC version of OS X has been available for some time now, but developers had been eager to for the Intel source when Apple announced its transition last year.
kernel source comes to you with a new portal, under the name, Mac OS Forge, which is dedicated to MAC Kernel developers. The Mac OS X kernel is open source software licensed under the Apple Public Source License 2.0. Complete license and copyright information can be found within the code.

Xeon Xserve! Better Apple Grids!!

Apple has announced the new Xserve, a quad Xeon, 64-bit server featuring Mac OS X Server Tiger on two dual-core Intel Xeon processors running up to 3.0 GHz, resulting in performance that is over five times that of its predecessor.
But don't run to the store yet, you may have to wait until October to get your hands on one, or more!
The fifth-generation Xserve is packed with features designed to meet your needs. Powered by the dual-core Intel “Woodcrest” Xeon processor running at up to 3.0GHz, this quad-core 64-bit system delivers performance up to 5 times (1) faster than the Xserve G5. For flexible storage, there’s support for both SATA and SAS — and up to 2.25TB of internal capacity. Internal ATI Radeon X1300 PCI Express graphics is included with a mini-DVI output with VGA support. Dual redundant power supplies gives extra piece of mind. And you can control it all from across the hall or around the world, thanks to integrated lights-out management hardware and powerful, easy-to-use software.
"Xserve has always been the perfect server for Mac workgroups and now it will run over five times faster for the same breakthrough price," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing. "With new Intel processors, a redesigned hardware architecture, and an unlimited Tiger Server client access license, no one can offer better price performance and manageability in a 1U server.
At just 1.75 inches thick, the Xserve 1U form factor enables you to deploy a formidable array of processors in a 42U rack that makes the best possible use of the floor space in your server room or data center. This rack-optimized server offers phenomenal processing power, massive storage capacity — up to 2.25TB — and remote management tools that make it a snap to deploy and maintain. Based on Intel’s power-per-watt-optimized “Woodcrest” Xeon processor, Xserve maximizes your server performance while minimizing power and cooling requirements.

Windows is best platform for GRID? Dan's Boss says so!!

Well the CEO from Digipade thinks so! What he says actually is "Windows is optimal OS for grid computing"! Well it is a good read even if you are an ardent Linux or any other OS fan like me.
I usually checkout my fellow blogger Dan Ciruli's site, at least once a week. (Not just because he links me!) Because I learn a lot about Windows side of the story from his articles, be it about lunches at conferences or how to troubleshoot grid in .NET. I usually admire his work and learn a lot for my open source excel on grid project! (It is still hidden from public views as I am ashamed of the code I have so far!!)
Any way back to the story, I found the powers un filtered site through Dan's connections to Digipede. Is it power SUN filtered? Or powers unfiltered? Find out yourself by visiting the site. Also Dan's site as well.
The banner story is a result of an article published by PC WELT, PC WORLD (Germen version), titled;
Linux is optimal OS for grid computing, says Oracle
It starts with "The modular approach to computing underlies the major IT evolution that is currently taking place. And although the evolution itself has been called many things ? Grid, utility, adaptive enterprise, on demand ? Its main impetus is to enhance interoperability and to help the IT industry deliver better products at reduced costs, said Guy Cross, director, Business Development, Oracle Asia Pacific Linux Business Unit."
Well the article is too short for any intelligent information, ask any GRID vendor or person like me, you will have the same basic advise the article gives.
Dan's Boss does a good rebuke and "O3" people might learn something from it. I am an openly "O3" guy, but I don't down right bash windows either. In fact I am working on a project that deploys Oracle "GRID" on windows 2003 platform. We are having a ton of problems getting windows behave on blades from a reputable vendor but that is not a grid on windows problem.
Well go ahead read and rebuke him, PC WELT or Dan for that matter, if you are interested! My opinion is it was worth to write about!

Tags: windows grid

SUN is shining on Mediagrid

The grid institute announced that Sun Microsystems is joining the Mediagrid.org to advance the international standards for storing, delivering, and processing digital media in grid computing environments. A key component of the collaboration is the seamless connection of Sun Microsystems’ on-demand Sun Grid compute utility to the public Media Grid network, enabling Media Grid service requests and jobs to be handled by Sun Grid. In addition to increasing the quality of service and overall performance of the Media Grid network, “gatewaying” to Sun Grid will also have a direct and positive influence on related MediaGrid.org standards.
“We look forward to collaborating with Sun Microsystems and the Sun Grid team to develop a new generation of grid-based digital media infrastructure and application standards,” said Aaron E. Walsh, Director of the Grid Institute’s MediaGrid.org standards organization. “Connecting Media Grid and Sun Grid will have an immediate impact on open Grid Gateway standards by providing a significant real-world gateway implementation and corresponding technical specifications, upon which Media Grid application standards -- such as those for rendering, gaming, and virtual reality -- ultimately build,” continued Walsh.
Sun Grid researchers and technologists will contribute to the design and development of open Media Grid standards through the following MediaGrid.org technology working groups:
Grid Gateway Technology Group (GGTG)
Quality of Service Technology Group (QOSTG)
Media Storage Technology Group (MSTG)
Media Processing Technology Group (MPTG)
Media Delivery Technology Group (MDTG)
Rendering Technology Group (RTG)
Gaming Technology Group (GTG)
Virtual Reality Technology Group (VRTG)

Sun’s MediaGrid.org membership was officially announced during Boston’s Siggraph Summit on July 30th.

The Grid Institute leads the design and development of the global Media Grid through the MediaGrid.org open standards organization in collaboration with industry, academia, and governments from around the world.