How do we ensure the future for e-science?
The scientific community is increasingly dependant on digital technologies, so how can we ensure that our researchers will always have the IT resources they need?
Many say the time has come for Europe to unite its national efforts into a sustainable, interoperable pan-European grid infrastructure. They've called it the European Grid Initiative, or "EGI" for short.
Establishing a centralized pan-European grid computing infrastructure will not be easy and requires financial input from all stakeholders. However, such a long-term plan promises to provide a reliable, flexible computing resource with long-term sustainable benefits for researchers, the countries providing funding, and the people who live in those countries.
WHY BOTHER TO FEDERATE NATIONAL RESOURCES?
Many people think that joining National Grid Initiatives (NGIs) to form a massive pan-European grid will offer advantages such as:
- Improved coordination: EGI could put in place a coordinated grid computing and data storage solution, reducing the effort required to maintain and coordinate multiple independent solutions.
- Improved compatibility: EGI could offer compatible, interoperating technologies that simply and reliably service to Europe’s grid computing needs.
- Improved collaborative ability: EGI could pave the way for smooth and regular coordination of not only computing resources, but human and intellectual resources also.
- Improved capacity: EGI could unite European computing and data storage resources, creating a resource with unparalleled facility to push scientific progress towards new and innovative solutions.
WHO WILL MANAGE EGI?
The coordinating body responsible for managing EGI will be EGI.org. Individual NGIs will contribute to high-level EGI management through participation in the EGI Council. Together, NGIs and EGI.org will direct the progress, operations, maintenance and sustainability of the EGI infrastructure.
According to current plans, EGI.org will begin operations in 2010 and will be responsible for provision of essential services, such as security, application support, grid software regulation, and monitoring and accounting for resource use.
WHO WILL PAY FOR EGI?
The main initial funding is expected to come from the European Union. Each NGI will contribute an EGI membership fee to fund the high-level services of EGI.org. These fees will provide for staff specialized in coordinating and managing EGI resources, and will be charged on a sliding scale, envisaged as being based on an index similar to the GDP.
Later, “service charges” will be introduced, added to country membership fees to cover the additional services as requested. Ongoing co-funding by the European Union will help to ensure the long-term cohesion and sustainability of the EGI infrastructure as a cutting edge resource.
THE BIG 3: CHALLENGES FOR EGI
1) Scalability EGI must strive to comprise an operations model that provides for flexibility, low cost of entry, and scalability. This will provide the resilience EGI requires to flourish as it grows.
2) Interoperation EGI must identify “best practices” in e-infrastructures, ensuring that NGIs use EGI-certified and verified grid technologies. This standardization will ensure that different NGIs can interact and interoperate.
3) Promotion of NGI autonomy After the initial transition to EGI, NGIs will be fully responsible for sustaining support for their user communities, middleware requirements and technical operations.
