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Cyberinfrastructure to support GRID Computing and GlobalCollaboration for Malaysian Researchers: Current Status and Future Plans

Suhaimi Napis1. CIO and Director, InfoComm Development Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia2. Director, E-Research Area, Malaysian Research and Education Network (MYREN)

ISGC2007 - 26-29 Mar; Academia Sinica, Taipei

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OUTLINE

MYREN MYREN II (Phase 2) National Grid Computing Initiative

Grid Status Report

End

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What is MYREN?

MYREN was launched by the KTAK, MOSTI, MOHE on 28th March 2005

Connects 12 of the largest public universities in Malaysia, with bandwidths ranging from 2Mbps to 8Mbps

Two private organizations connected to MYREN on their own cost as they see benefit in being part of the community

MYREN’s hub in Cyberjaya and is a gateway to other international NRENs in other countries via the Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN2) in April 2006.

Countries currently connected to MYREN include: Asia Pacific - Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore,

Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam Europe – GEANT2 (33 countries in Europe incl. UK, Germany, Italy,

Spain, etc.) North America – Internet2

MYREN Network Topology (as of Aug 2006)

Campus Network

Campus Network

Campus Network

Campus Network Campus

Network

Campus NetworkCampus

Network

Campus Network

Campus Network

Campus Network

Campus Network

MYREN NOC

MYREN WAN****connects members and collaborators at national

levelUUM

UTP

UPM

UKMUITM

MMU UNITEN

UM

UTM

UMS

UNIMAS

Campus Network

NAV6 Centre

USM

Mimos Grid Computing

Centre

TEIN2

Internet 4M

45M MDeC Virtual Reality Cluster

4Q06

Campus Network

MONASH

Campus Network

TM R&D

8Mbps

2Mbps

4Mbps

8Mbps

8Mbps

8Mbps

8Mbps

2Mbps 2Mbps 2Mbps

8Mbps

1Mbps

2Mbps

2Mbps

45Mbps

1Gbps

5

Improved Network Performance

milliseconds

Internet

TEIN2

Australia 416 92

Japan 113 92

China 546 89

S’pore 129 20

Vietnam 194 68

US 396 260

33 countries in Europe

North America

TEIN2 International Connection (since Apr 2006)

MYREN Internet2 CANARIE AARNet SingaREN

Country Malaysia United States Canada Australia Singapore

Network Name

MYREN Abilene CA*Net4 AARNet3 SingaREN

Bandwidth Backbone: 45M

User: 2-8M

Backbone: 10G

User: 100M-1G

Backbone: unlimited

User: 2.5G

Backbone: 5G

User: 10-100M

Backbone: n/a

User: 2M-100M

Traffic R&D only Production & R&D

Production & R&D

Production & R&D

Production & R&D

Network model

Telco-managed backbone & access network

Self-built backbone network -partnership with telco

Access network provided by regional fiber operator

Self-built backbone network -partnership with telco

Access network provided by regional fiber operator

Self-built backbone network -partnership with telco

Access network provided by regional fiber operator

Partially telco-managed backbone network

Access network can be procured with telco

Governance model

Govt. Project (owner is KTAK and manager is MDeC)

Consortium Consortium Consortium Society

National Research Networks: A Comparison

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Achievements – Examples of Projects

1.E-Lecture Series: UM-Kyoto-Tsinghua• A weekly lecture organized for post graduate students in environmental

management. Lecture is chaired in rotation by the three universities. MYREN’s better quality enables hi-definition image and audio conferencing and allows for real-time interaction between lecturer and students

2.Telesurgery: UM – MDeC Virtual Reality Center and Korea-Manila-Malaysia

• MYREN allows remote visualization of 3D models built from medical scanned images. The high bandwidth of MYREN allows for UM’s researchers to harness the computational power of the MDeC VRC

3.E-Culture: UPM-UM-MDeC • Digitalization of dance movements and subsequent sharing of 3D models

between researchers can be accomplished through the high bandwidth of MYREN

4.E-Culture: UPM-ViNAREN and UPM-ITB• UPM successfully transmitted a live cultural performance from Malaysia to

Vietnam. MYREN allows for high-quality video and audio to be transmitted to collaborators internationally.

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MYREN Achievements: International Research Collaboration1. TEIN2

MYREN plays active role in TEIN2 – Global Launch & TEIN2 Video

Malaysian researchers seen to be increasingly prominent e.g. EUSEA Conference

Active participation with regional scientists in network research, IPv6, e-Culture. Soon on Telemedicine, grid

Participating in discussion on TEIN2’s future

2. Internet 2 (US) Signed MOU in July 2006 Exploring collaboration activities Exploring dedicated connection in 2007

3. ASTRENA Main Committee ASTREAN will form the ASEAN-wide NREN and would

be the platform for research collaboration within ASEAN researchers

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MYREN Issues - Low Utilization!

University Bandwidth(Mbps)

Average UsageMar 2005 – May 2006 (%)

Roadshow?

U. Utara Malaysia 2M 8.8 Y

U. Sains Malaysia 8M 1.0 Y

U. Tek. Petronas 4M 6.6 N

U. Malaya 8M 19.2 Y

U. ITM 2M 2.84 N

U. Putra Malaysia 8M 1.13 Y

U. Multimedia Malaysia 2M 64.9 Y

U. Tenaga 2M 0.1 Y

U. Kebangsaan Malaysia

8M 4.1 Y

U. Teknologi Malaysia 8M 1.8 Y

U. Malaysia Sarawak 8M 0.05 Y

U. Malaysia Sabah 1M 0.42 Y

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MYREN Issues -Low Utilization

Issues of low utilization include:

1. Research funding for RMK-8 ceased during 2004-2005, thus researchers could not engage in new projects utilizing MYREN

2. Some Public IHL’s IT Centres/Division were reluctant to manage a 2nd network and thus gave low priority to MYREN

3. Most Public IHL’s are reluctant to peer with MYREN. Peering can allow some production traffic (.edu, .net, .com) hosted within NREN clouds to be shifted via MYREN pipe. E.g. MMU is shifting some of the production traffic to MYREN.

4. Many key researchers in IHL’s did not attend Roadshow and thus have poor awareness of MYREN.

5. IHL’s in Malaysia have poor record of collaborating e.g. silo research. Also many are focused on teaching instead of researching

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MYREN2: Key Activities & Tasks

Network Operations

Promotion ofResearch Activities

Human Capital Programmes

NetworkInfrastructure &

Connectivity

Membership &Promotions

MYREN2

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Proposed MYREN2: Network Connectivity

Note: Node selection was made based on the location of existing & prospective connectors.

Gigabit Ethernet

Cloud

KL

MYREN asset

50km radius to

user

Cyberjaya

50km radius to

user MYREN asset

50km radius to user

Penang

MYREN asset

PJ

MYREN asset

50km radius to

user

50km radius to user

Kuantan

MYREN asset

MYREN asset

50km radius to

user

Johor Bharu

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The National Grid Computing The National Grid Computing Initiative (NGCI)Initiative (NGCI)

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NGCI: National MissionNGCI: National Mission

Creation of virtual research groups and synergy among centres of excellence in universities & institutes in Malaysia

Creation of a platform for sharing of best practices amongst local universities & research institutes and abroad

Significant cost reduction through sharing expensive tools and resources

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NGCI: GoalNGCI: Goal

TEIN II

45Mbps

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ObjectivesObjectives

To establish and expand joint research in Grid Computing regionally and globally

To enable resource sharing and coordinated research work over the globally

To provide high performance computing capability for research in various domain specific applications

To introduce new scientific applications and technology components into local research and development

To enable training of highly secure local talent in Grid Computing

To establish research collaboration with international organizations in Grid Computing (PRAGMA, SEAGF, GGF)

To provide new knowledge intensive industries in Malaysia

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Domain Areas in NGCIDomain Areas in NGCI

Infostructure and SecurityInfostructure and Security

Grid ApplicationsGrid Applications

•All the national project in Bio-Informatics, Semiconductor, Language Engineering and Security

•Scientific & Engineering Apps •Humanities/Social Science/ Fine Arts Apps •E-Learning Apps

•Life Sciences (Bio-Medical)

COMPUTERS

STORAGE

Grid Middleware and Tool EnablersGrid Middleware and Tool Enablers

Service Management Resource Allocation Resource Monitoring

Globus Toolkits (GT4)

Tools and Enablers

PO

LIC

Y &

P

OL

ICY

&

GO

VE

RN

AN

CE

GO

VE

RN

AN

CE

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Government

Individual Users

SM

Es/

Com

pani

es/

Ent

erpr

ises

Universities/

Research Institutes

NGOperating

Centre

Regional Centres of Excellence

Regional Centres of Excellence

Satellite Centres

Satellite Centres

NGCI OverviewNGCI Overview

Role of National Grid Operating Centre (NGOC)

Grid operating centre

Monitoring

Provides major computing resources and necessary human resources

Role of Regional Centres of Excellence

Distributed centres specialize in certain domain areas

Provide support and training to the Satellite Centres within specific regions with certain specializations

Role of Satellite Centres

Participating members with computing resources to share

Manages and maintains its own hardware and software

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National Grid Computing Infostructure

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Governance Structure for NGCIGovernance Structure for NGCI

Strategy Planning and Policy Development

Contribute and allocate computing resources

Drive the National Technology Roadmap

Monitoring and Membership

National Technology Roadmap Implementation and ReviewStandardization and BenchmarkingImplementation of plansProject evaluation and monitoringMonitoring of GridDay-to-day technical operationsImplementation of GTC decisions

Secretariat support to NGCC and GTC

Ministry of Science and Technology, Innovation

(MOSTI)

Secretariat(MOSTI/MIMOS)

Grid Technical Committee (GTC)

National Grid Coordinating Committee

(NGCC)

Grid Operations(MIMOS)

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NGCI: Current Status NGCI: Current Status (Today: Live)(Today: Live)

http://nucleus.mygridusbio.net.my/ganglia/

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Parting Messages

Help!! Need to hook up to more Grid facilities worldwide

HR Training!! Need to send students and researchers to Grid facilities

Virtual seminars and workshops!! Need willing colleagues to be speakers and resource persons

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TQSpecial thanks to ASGC-

TWGrid…