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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Special Features:
U.K. WORKS ON NATIONAL GRID
INITIATIVE
Though unassuming from the outside, the new National E-Science Centre in
Edinburgh houses some of the most innovative and advanced technologies in the
country.
The U.K. seeks to implement a national grid of computing power and the
centre
takes control of a public and private sector plan to do so. The computing
power would be used by academic and research industries in efforts to improve
everything from global weather predictions to car engine safety.
Moving beyond the power of the internet, Grid computing harnesses the
computing capacity of thousands of PCs to create a supernetwork at a
relatively small price. The U.K. hopes to implement a national, or
international, grid to power their supercomputer applications. Ordinary
desktop PCs can be linked together to pool their energy in the same way power
stations contribute to a single network.
Advocates stress the economic advantage of Grid computing as well. A
single
supercomputer could cost upwards of a few million pounds, while a large
network of PCs would be but several hundred thousand. Such savings could make
Grid computing as easily accessible as water or electricity.
Researchers and scientists say that a network of this capacity could tackle
any issue in need of powerful processing power. The issue can be divided up
and sent over the various pieces of the network so that each PC can handle a
specific part of the problem. And because most PCs have extra processing
power not being used, the machines can run calculations even while idle. As
long as the PC remains connected to the mainframe, it can perform its
calculations even while being used.
Ideas like this are becoming more and more of a reality. The SETI@home
project, for example, harnesses internet users' spare processing time to
crunch numbers from radio telescopes in hopes of discovering extraterrestrial
life.
In another project, Oxford University asks internet users for extra
computing
power to crunch through molecules that could lead to drug treatment for
cancer. Also, Intel uses workers' dormant computers to test their new chip
designs.
There are, however, advantages to supercomputer use as well.
Supercomputers
are needed to test the consequences of nuclear explosions and to protect and
defend countries. Because grid computing is still relatively new, there are
some obstacles standing in the way of its implementation.
A single computer could conceivably make a mistake or fail to send back its
finished calculations. Researchers are working on extremely complex software
that will have to be able to cope with the errors and small failures that
could occur with such a large network.
The £5.5m from the DTI and £3m from industry will help implement a national
grid to benefit both industry and academia.
The DAME (Distributed Aircraft Maintenance Environment) project is an
academic
contingent made up of York, Leeds and Sheffield universities, along with
Rolls-Royce, Data Systems & Solutions and Cybula to increase aircraft safety.
Funded with £3m from the EPSRC, they will attempt to build a database of
engine problems and treatments for quicker diagnosis.
The goal of the project is to create a Distributed Diagnostics Grid
Test-bed;
an Aero-gas turbine Application Demonstrator for aircraft engines; and
techniques for distributed data mining and diagnostics. All in all, creators
hope to foster an evaluation of grid infrastructure's effectiveness for such
an application.
The project arose from Rolls-Royce's large databases of aircraft
information
and diagnostics on engine performance. The 1Gb of data produced by the
engines must be stored and examined so that there is a quick response that
will not delay the plane's maintenance.
The search engine technology, which has been under development for the past
15
years and uses mathematical techniques to identify abnormalities in large
volumes of data, has been provided by York University. The White Rose Grid is
hosting the system as part of the national grid initiative.
Rolls-Royce may use the technology on their own grid-like structures, maybe
with their own computer networks, once the project is complete.
Though the DAME project is considered one of the most important and
commercially advanced grid initiatives underway, other projects are hoped to
make further breakthroughs. For instance, one project involves a bus company
improving its routing and time-tabling systems. The Geodise (Grid Enabled
Optimization and Design) project, an analysis of ships' motion at sea, and the
application of grid techniques for civil engineering sites to manage key data
are some other projects currently on the board.
But how should businesses be charged for using a commercial grid? The
amount
of use must be metered, as with electricity, but measuring this power proves
extremely difficult when spread across thousands of PCs. Businesses may want
to join in the pilot schemes around the country in order to try out some grid
initiatives. But once the grid is completed, any business will be eligible to
apply for its use.
Though the national grid initiative for industry and research is an
ambitious
endeavor, it is by no means a mere pipe dream. The highest levels of
government are supportive of the project, fostering high hopes for the many
involved.
Even the chancellor put his stamp of approval on projects like the grid
initiative, citing the country's need to stay competitive in the industry. He
promised more money for science and desire to partner with industry leaders.
Together, he believes a national grid implementation will become a successful
reality.
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