CERN helps Grid computing into the mainstream

The second phase will concentrate on developing a Platform Competence Centre, a Grid Interoperability Centre, and work on IT security.

The Platform Competence Centre will focus on virtualisation and software and hardware optimisation. Virtualisation will allow Grid applications to run in a highly secure and standardised environment that is independent of any vagaries of the hardware, while software and hardware optimisation is a vital element of the global computing Grid that CERN is putting together to support the Large Hadron Collider, CERN’s new accelerator that is due to begin operating next year.

The Grid Interoperability Centre will reinforce Enabling Grids for E-science, an EU funded project that is led by CERN. This will allow the Openlab industrial partners to take part in the integration and certification of Grid middleware.

CERN Openlab will work on computer security also. Initially, most effort will be in virus protection, anti-spyware, intrusion detection and prevention, with a particular focus on client and mail server security. Two Finnish companies, F-Secure and Stonesoft will contribute to this work.

Robert Aymar, Director General of CERN said the results of the first phase had demonstrated Openlab is an effective framework for pre-competitive collaboration between multiple industrial partners, based on open standards

“This partnership gives CERN a means to share our vision of the future of scientific computing with leading IT companies and gain deep insights into how industry sees computer hardware and IT services evolving.”

Sergio Giacoletto, Executive vice president of Oracle, EMEA, said Openlab has had a significant role in making Grid computing mainstream. “[It] has rapidly moved it from an arcane, scientific discipline to a technique in use by many businesses, small and large today.”