Full HTML for Basic General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint)

This presentation asserts that software architecture should be designed in three layers: client interface, high functionality middleware accessing when necessary specialized high performance third layer

On client side, we discuss VPL as an example and suggest that a Java Computing Services framework can lead to universal interoperable interfaces

In middleware, we discuss Collaboration, Integration software, Multidisciplinary Applications, databases and CORBA

This links to distributed simulation HLA RTI and DIS
We describe development of JavaBean based visual programming with HPComponentWare

Finally we discuss Java as the universal language to express all of this -- including scientific computing!

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 6 Why use the Web as basis for HPCC Software?

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HPCC is a small field with limited resources for a very hard problem and must leverage as much software as possible

Web Software provides an excellent pervasive user interface with Java Applets and WebWindows

Web Software provides a potentially excellent high performance object oriented language (Java) for scientific and engineering computation

Web Software provides a high functionality but modest performance distributed computing environment based on either Web Servers or Clients

We will choose to use servers as higher functionality than clients although currently less broadly deployed
Only addresses Integration of already decomposed parts!

All(!?) we need to do is to add high performance to the Web!

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 7 More General 3 Level Software Model Functionality Performance Tradeoff

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Building from bottom of Computing pyramid starts with high functionality software which has an architecture that can be augmented with high performance

3 Levels of Software

Client Interfaces
Middleware based on high functionality Web Integration based on network of Web (Java) Servers
that can "escape" (as in machine language subroutine) to a high performance layer which is viewed as one of many services -- CORBA, Databases are other services

One universal language -- Java for all layers

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 8 High Functionality Software Layer

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

This is "middleware" which is implemented in simplest form as a network of Java Servers

Web based distributed or Metacomputing based on linking mobile Web modules
Collaboration as in Habanero or Tango
Support services including databases, object brokers, instruments, MPP's etc.

Access

Resources

Store

Multimedia Information

Collaboration Server

File Systems

and/or Database

Object Broker

Database

Simulation (Network-enabled

servers such as NEOS, Netsolve)

Sequential

or Parallel

Computer

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 9 Computing Model in Esprit CISPAR Project

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Link CFD and CSM -- each of which codes has steps

Input --> Mesh Generation --> Partitioning --> MPI based simulation --> Post Processing

CFD

COCOLIB communication library supplies Data and Control

Structures

MPI Processes of individual programs

Partition Individual Grids

COCOLIB (CISPAR Runtime Library)Interpolates between grids of 2 programs

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 10 Three Possible Implementations of CFD CSM Linkage

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Natural Choice:

Optimal High Performance Choice

Data and Control

Data Only

CFD Server

Structures Server

Control

Only

Simplest Server level Implementation

Structures Server

CFD Server

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 11 Technology Convergence Roadmap - Overview for Forces Modeling, Integrated Modeling and Testing for DoD

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 12 DIS Distributed Event Driven Simulation Web Prototype at NPS 1997

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

There is a web-based DIS project at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) at Monterey, CA, led by Don Brutzman who is NPS faculty, member of VRML Consortium and Moderator of newly formed dis-java-vrml mailing list.

The goal of the project is to explore Java for DIS protocol implementation and networking, VRML2 for visualization of the simulated virtual DIS worlds, and Web browsers for the GUI packaging and integration.

The current NPS experiment uses exclusively Java, VRML and HTML to implement a proof-of-the-concept demo. In a more complete Web DIS, the actual simulation engines will be likely provided by the optimized legacy codes, suitably interfaced to Java based communication and VRML based rendering.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 13 Details of the WebDIS Prototype at the NPS

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Front-end is provided by Netscape running one vehicle simulation applet on each node and by Cosmo Player VRML2 browser displaying the multi-vehicle simulated world.

Java applet propagates local vehicle and communicates via the bridge daemon with other nodes, sending local vehicle PDUs and reading remote vehicles PDUs.

Java applet and VRML browser interact via EAI (External API) as specified by SGI/Cosmo Player add-on to the VRML2 protocol. JavaScript is used to acquire handle to the VRML scene and LiveConnect is used to pass this handle to the Java applet.

Applet performs dynamic real-time updates of the scene graph based on local vehicle simulation and remote vehicle locations received via PDUs.

This prototype is successful and demonstrates that one can use Web technology for Distributed Event Driven Simulation -- the major use of simulation in DoD

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 14 The Next Big Web Technology Advance: Object Web and CORBA

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Web'97 is already quite elaborate at the client/browser side but still rather simplistic at the server side (base HTTP with CGI extensions).

New Java Frameworks (Enterprise, Media) bring new family of Java servers that can implement an object based middleware and backend layers for the Web based services including computing.

One critical development in the distributed objects domain is the IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol), mandatory in CORBA2 and offering a new server-to-server communication standard between commercial ORBs from various vendors.

At the moment, Web Server market is dominated by customized or/and proprietary systems but there is a new strong tendency to standardize the Web middleware around the CORBA paradigm.

'Java based ORB' is a CORBA2 compliant ORB written exclusively in Java, and hence fully portable and ready to run also on the Wintel platform, where distributed objects were so far under control of Microsoft DCOM/ActiveX model.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 15 CORBA Web Architecture

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 16 Aspects of Java ORB based Middleware

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

The new emergent Object Web framework includes Web servers in the middleware, Java applets in the front-end and Java ORBs on both sides.

Client-side ORB (or ORBlet) can be either downloaded as part of the applet, or resident on the client host, or embedded in the browser (as planned by Netscape).

Applet downloads via HTTP and connects via ORBlet's IIOP to a middleware ORB. This middleware ORB can be either another server or part of the Web server.

Middleware ORB connects via IIOP to other ORBs on the CORBA bus. This mechanism enables global connectivity via CORBA white/yellow page services such as Naming Service or Trader Service and their federations.

Client-side ORBlet is also a lightweight server - hence clients can be called by servers via the CORBA callback mechanism. This enables interactive feedback, asynchronous notification and a variety of collaboratory frameworks over the CORBA bus.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 17 Integration of DIS with Object Web Based Computing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

DoD modeling community is currently evolving towards the HLA(High level Architecture) framework with the RTI (Run Time Infrastructure) based communication bus.

The goal of HLA/RTI is to enhance interoperability across more diverse simulators than in the DIS realm, ranging from real-time to time-stepped to event-driven paradigms.

HLA defines a set of rules governing how simulators (federates) interact with each others. Federates describe their objects via Object Model Template (OMT) and agree on a common Federation Object Model (FOM).

The overall HLA/RTI model is strongly influenced by the CORBA architecture and in fact the current prototype development is indeed CORBA based.

We next step is to combine CORBA2 (Initial HLA/RTI is CORBA1) with NPS prototype ideas to give a fully object and Web integrated event driven simulation environment.

Java3D is natural visualization environment in this scenario

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 18 Aspects of Object Web based HPCC

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Our HPCC Server model is consistent with the Object Web trends

The servers provide high functionality CORBA2 services with an event based control mechanisms

A new HPCORBA data transfer layer implements high performance object method invocations

Current WebFlow functionality, limited to classical dataflow, can be extended to support also visual authoring of CORBA business objects and in a component based software approach, WebFlow will be a CORBA vertical framework aimed at distributed computing.

JavaBeans are the base software components which have a visual programming model which links ideas in systems such as Hence CODE AVS WebFlow with modern software engineering practice.

In summary, we propose HPCORBA based WebFlow with JavaBeans front-ends as an effective delivery platform for integrating HPCC and DoD Modeling, Simulation and Testing environments with modern high productivity software development environments.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 19 Aspects of HPCORBA Architecture

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

The following figure illustrates a possible CORBA-HPCC integration framework ( HPCORBA )

Each node of a parallel machine runs a lightweight (e.g. Nexus based ) ORBlet which enables both local and remote object services.

Coming CORBA3/MOM based messaging and object-by-value frameworks adapted to provide high-performance (e.g. MPI based) object-oriented (IIOP based) inter-node communication.

Parallel Computation graphs are represented by Interface Definition Language (IDL) in a language independent way and optimized by parallel compiler technologies.

Specific language bindings would result in HPF, HPC++ or HPJava implementations.

This framework provides interoperability with the emergent Object Web software industry and offers an elegant solution for scalable parallel I/O ( linking HPCORBA with Oracle CORBA )

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 20 Diagram of HPCORBA Architecture

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 21 Applications of Web Technology -- WebWindows in Action!

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/cps616appl97

June 19 1997

Internet Applications Development Certificate Course

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 22 Two Specialized Services

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

There is a "gray area" between base services and applications

Virtual Environments are a showcase for VRML2 and the emerging lower level but more powerful java3D

Training as in classic flight simulators and for SWAT teams
Entertainment is seen in 3D games and high end virtual reality theme park attractions
MOO like goal of immersing user in a virtual more realistic world which gives visual cues enabling a more productive environment

Data Analysis is natural client side Java Application for visualization/analysis in both scientific and engineering simulations and in areas like economic modeling

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 23 Review of Basic Web/Internet Technologies -- Networking HTTP MIME!

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/cps616webreviewjune97

Material from CPS606 Assumed in CPS616

Used in Trip to China May 97

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 24 Abstract of Web Review Material

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We review some of the base material assumed in CPS616 using curricula material taken from CPS606

History and Structure/Size of Internet and Web

Basic Internet and Web Services

What is WebWindows and basic Web architecture

Overview of Networking for Internet

MIME HTTP

but not HTML or CGI (see separate presentations)

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 25 3 Reasons to Learn or Use Web Technologies

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

For the World Wide Web or Internet Itself

For use in Enterprise/Corporate Information Systems

I.e. Intranet Use

Use of Web Technology as base software Infrastructure

VRML for Video Games
JavaBeans for Component-based software
New (distance) Education Approaches

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 26 Programming for the Web General Introduction CPS406/606 Fall Semester 97

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/cps606fall97intro

Nancy McCracken

Geoffrey Fox, Tom Scavo

Syracuse University NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 27 Abstract of Introduction to Web Programming Courses

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

This introduces the course which covers the essential programming skills needed for Web / Internet / Intranet Programming

The Introductory module overviews the basic Web technologies

Java, JavaScript, Perl, VRML, Web-linked databases, multimedia
This course does Java and Perl

It uses 2 tier (client-sever) and 3 tier computing models as general motivations

And a set of specific applications using Web Technologies

Theses are meant to show you why you are taking this course and the follow-on (CPS616) which does the advanced Web features

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 28 Four Roles of Object Web Technologies in Computing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

One can "just" use Object Web technologies as a software infrastructure for building parallel, distributed or sequential computing environments which can have a very different architecture from the Web

e.g. write software in Java
e.g. adopt interfaces/standards such as JDBC, VRML, Java3D

As above, but specifically build a metacomputing environment

One can view the Object Web as a distributed information system with modest performance and build a metacomputing system with the Web architecture

we "only" need to enhance the Object Web to get high performance
several ways of doing this -- common feature is that they all inherit rich web capabilities -- typically Web Server based
By inheriting Object Web architecture, naturally track evolving and improving commodity technology base

Harness the power of the Web as a computer -- use up the idle cycles on the WebTV's in every home -- typically a Web Client based system

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 29 Commodity(Web) Technologies for Parallel and Distributed (Meta)Computing ParCo 97 September 16,97 Bonn Germany

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University

NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 30 Abstract of Web Technologies for Parallel and MetaComputing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We describe how a network of servers architecture can naturally support both parallel and distributed computing while

Java can be used for both the client interface and for programming parallel and sequential scientific problems

This is illustration in multidisciplinary applications, forces modeling, integration of CORBA, role of component based software, interpreters

we discuss role of collaboration technologies

we describe relevance of Web technologies

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 31 The Computing Pyramid

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Bottom of Pyramid has 1000 times dollar value and compute power of best supercomputer (tip of pyramid) but supercomputer has high performance network to support close synchronization needed by classic parallel algorithms

Use of

Web Technologies

is naturally a

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 32 Inevitable Relevance of the Object Web

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Any large scale metacomputing/distributed computing environment will be shaped by and shape all 5 classes of applications on previous foil

Even if only aimed at high end applications, the system will be influenced by and influence the "Object Web" or "commodity software infrastructure" which is here defined as "mass-market"/business IntraNet (low to low) use of Internet/distributed Information System

Parallel Computing systems can be viewed as a special case of a Metacomputer

Perhaps one will need a stripped production environment for highest performance but
best program development environment is likely to be based on commodity technologies as can leverage and track wonderful software aimed at broad based distributed computing

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 33 Structure(Architecture) of Applications - I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Applications are metaproblems with a mix of module and data parallelism

Modules are decomposed into parts (data parallelism) and composed hierarchically into full applications.They can be the

"10,000" separate programs (e.g. structures,CFD ..) used in design of aircraft
the various filters used in Khoros based image processing system
the ocean-atmosphere components in integrated climate simulation
The data-base or file system access of a data-intensive application
the objects in a distributed Forces Modeling Event Driven Simulation

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 34 Structure(Architecture) of Applications - II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Modules are "natural" message-parallel components of problem and tend to have less stringent latency and bandwidth requirements than those needed to link data-parallel components

modules are what HPF needs task parallelism for
Often modules are naturally distributed whereas parts of data parallel decomposition may need to be kept on tightly coupled MPP

Assume that primary goal of metacomputing system is to add to existing parallel computing environments, a higher level supporting module parallelism

Now if one takes a large CFD problem and divides into a few components, those "coarse grain data-parallel components" can be supported by computational grid technology
so no clean division but coarse grain modules are general goal!

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 35 Some Tactical Opportunities of Object Web Technologies - I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

So this is partly use of Object Web Software to build metacomputing systems of any architecture

Perhaps VRML or Java3D are important for scientific visualization

Web (including Java applets) front-ends provide convenient customizable interoperable user interfaces to HPCC facilities

Perhaps the public key security and digital signature infrastructure being developed for electronic commerce, could enable more powerful approaches to secure HPCC systems

Perhaps Java will become a common scientific programming language and so effort now devoted to Fortran and C++ tools needs to be extended or shifted to Java

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 36 Some Tactical Opportunities of Object Web Technologies - II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

The universal adoption of JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) and the growing convenience of web-linked databases could imply a growing importance of systems that link large scale commercial databases with HPCC computing resources

Javabeans, RMI, COM, CORBA, IIOP form the basis of the emerging "pragmatic object web" which analogously to the previous bullet could encourage a growing use of modern object technology which will allow better managed distributed systems

Emerging collaboration and other distributed information systems could allow new (low end) distributed work paradigms which can be used in computational steering and for basic scientific research

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 37 One Strategy for a Object Web-based Metacomputing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Object Web Software provides a high functionality but modest performance distributed computing (Metacomputing) environment based on either Web (soon to be CORBA IIOP and HTTP/Java Socket) Servers or Clients

Here we will explore an architecture using servers for control as higher functionality than clients although currently less broadly deployed

Some "parallel" computing problems (e.g. embarrassingly parallel ones) can "immediately" use Web as a parallel engine with no performance enhancements

Object Web Only addresses Integration of already decomposed parts!

Inherit and extend decomposition (data-parallel) technology from HPCC (parallel compiler and library technology)
Compose / Integrate Modules with Web Technology
Inherit all the pervasive (not high performance) services from the Web

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 38 General Object Web based Middle Tier Server Architecture

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We have a set of Services hosted by Object Web Servers which form the middleware and accessed by clients

Groups of clients (electronic societies) are linked by Java server based collaboration systems such as TANGO or Habanero

Access

Resources

Store

Multimedia Information

Collaboration Server

File Systems

and/or Database

Object Broker

Database

Simulation

e.g. NEOS

Netsolve

Computer

Person2

Shared

WhiteBoard

Shared Client Appl

Person1

General User

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 39 Role of Collaboratory Systems

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Systems like Tango or Habanero built around Java Servers integrate a group of multiple clients as a "Service" at the middle Java Server level

Building systems in this way automatically includes "people in the loop" -- Computational Steering, Education, Multidisciplinary collaborative design

Group of collaborating clients

and client applications

Database

Object Broker

MPP

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 40 Some Capabilities of the Object Web (Server) Architecture for Computing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Here are some examples of using our approach where large scale industry investment in Web technology appears to add significant value to metacomputing systems built with Web architecture

We illustrate some of them in following foils
many also apply to parallel computing environments

Multidisciplinary and Computational Steering Applications

link people data computation with collaboratory server as part of system

Visual and Interpreted Programming Environments

MATLAB/AVS/ Khoros like Systems (coarse grain Software Integration)
Software Component based approaches

Technologies to get High Performance CORBA

Integration with Forces Modeling (Distributed Event driven Simulation)

Integration with Networked enabled servers such as NEOS and Netsolve

These are naturally implemented using CORBA as are
Software repositories (RIB from National High Performance Software Exchange)

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 41 Implications of Commodity(Web) Technologies for Seamless Computing September 17,97 ECMWF Reading England

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University

NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 42 Abstract of Commodity Technologies in Seamless Computing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We discuss role of commodity (Web) technologies in future seamless computing environments

We describe how a network of servers architecture can naturally support both parallel and distributed computing while

We discuss implications of metacomputing, multidisciplinary applications,

We suggest critical importance of CORBA and component based software in HPCC

Javabeans seem very important

We recommend agreement on standard interfaces or frameworks for computing

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 43 What is the Problem?

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

There are a set of related concepts

Interoperable interfaces: Similar/same user interface to all computers
Multidisciplinary Applications: Run linked programs on one or more computers
Metacomputing: Run one or more linked programs on a distributed system

How general should we be?

Only cover distributed modules as opposed to general distribution of data-parallel problems

Can commodity (web) technologies deliver needed performance today or in near future?

Can we agree on necessary standards/frameworks?

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 44 Possible General Architectures

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Batch submission and analysis

Proper Interactive Client Server

General 3 Tier Architecture with multiple services

We will focus on this last case
which can collapse to 2 tier client-server

Client

(Web) Server

aka Middleware

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 45 What is a Module?

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

In general it is any process, but it is convenient (in the pure form of our web approach) to view each module as a Javabean (or equivalent component)

The Javabean can wrap existing Fortran, Perl or C C++ code by either using native methods or by invoking the code as a separate process

Modules as Javabeans allow them to be stored as objects and inspected visually

They can be part of a visual component based programming environment

Wrapping existing code as Javabeans is a good way of renovating "legacy code" so can be used more easily in future!

Can document for later use using standard property methods in Javabeans

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 46 Possible Java Frameworks for Computing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Numerical Computing Framework

library interfaces, (sparse) matrix storage, complex, evaluation rules, IEEE floating point support, "BLAS"

Computing Services Framework

Enables Interoperable web compute interfaces

High Performance Framework

Parallel Computing, I/O, Databases, Object Brokers
Java MPI Interface
HPF HPC++ Data Parallel Java

Distributed Computing Framework

Network of Java Servers, Multidisciplinary application and Metacomputing standards

Distributed Simulation Framework

Java implementations of DMSO HLA and DIS standards
This is event driven simulation system

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 47 What/Why is a Framework?

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Java Calls (mainly Interfaces and not methods) to capabilities expressed in implementation neutral form

Drivers convert these general calls to vendor specific implementation of service

Java code can either be all on client (2-tier) or on client and middle tier (3 tier)

e.g. JDBC is a universal interface to all relational databases

Adoption of this JDBC implies that vendor specific solutions (such as Oracle's PL/SQL) are immediately less attractive

Oracle must however support JDBC and de-emphasize PL/SQL because of importance of "seamless" interfaces!

Note database business is larger than simulation business

Maybe "computing" too small a field to get such agreements!

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 48 Too many Frameworks!

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

These are too many suggested computing frameworks and probably several are rather controversial as there is no agreed model of the use of Java in Computing

In fact, many people believe this is a mistake!

The most promising for early consideration are

1) The Numerical Computing Framework which is essentially use of Java in Computational Science and Engineering

Very important to get agreement on areas that affect JavaVM and the Java Language as these are getting harder to change

Expression Evaluation rules, Complex datatypes (overload + operator?), efficient multidimensional arrays,
http://www.npac.syr.edu/projects/javaforcse/june21summary.html

2) The Computing Services Framework which we give more detail on.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 49 Proposed Java Computing Services Framework

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Enables development of Web Interfaces to run a given job on any computer compliant with this framework just as JDBC gives a universal interface to any relational database

I.e. enables seamless computing

The Computing Services Framework allows vendors to compete on either User Front End (GUI) or back end services with the JavaCS framework providing universal linkage

The framework is implemented at the backend as a set of drivers which map generic Java Interfaces to particular software (e.g. a compiler) on particular machines.

Requires agreement by "suitable interested parties" on

what are the services
what are the interfaces for a given service
As with JDBC and PL/SQL can lead to difficult choices!

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 50 Possible Services in a Java Computing Framework - I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

http://www.sis.port.ac.uk/~mab/Computing-FrameWork/

Is CORBA (viewing system as a collection of objects) useful

Compiling, Executing, Specification of features needed for execution optimization

This includes parameters needed by MPI/HPF decompositions such as number of processors
Resource Management and Scheduling jobs as in Codine or LSF or new NT environments such as Wolfpack

Accounting -- use Web commerce technology?

Security (especially hard in metacomputing as link several different management policies)

Public Key Infrastructure expected from Internet commerce very important

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 51 Possible Services in a Java Computing Framework - II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Sharing, Accessing and Storing into File Systems

Data and Performance Visualization Interface (how applets access server side information)

Performance measurement and recording (cf: Pablo SDDF)

Interfaces for Programming Tools

Debuggers
Computational Steering / Interpreted Execution

Libraries including names in Math class and

role of Javabeans with visual Interfaces

Module linkage model for metaproblems (multidisciplinary applications) as in Javabeans sufficient?

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 52 HPCC ComponentWare: Essential Ideas

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Large gains in HPCC user productivity will be attained if we can integrate the ideas and technologies of modern (PC) visual programming with classical HPCC approaches

Use of important emerging Web and CORBA technology allows HPCC object (C++.,Java) and visual (CODE, Hence, WebFlow, AVS, Khoros) systems to be enhanced to become parallel component-based visual programming systems.

CORBA does not incorporate HPCC but as it specifies services and not implementation,

One can build a high performance HP-CORBA environment where we separate a high functionality modest performance control layer from an optional high performance method invocation layer.

HP-CORBA can be built on Nexus and Globus and it will allow HPCC users access to any CORBA service with an option for high performance when necessary.

The NPAC WebFlow technology can be combined with emerging JavaBean technology to produce a prototype HPcomponent system.

Note industry is ahead with sequential ComponentWare but is only now moving with activeX to distributed systems. HPCC already has visual distributed environments. So HPCC need not be behind if it generalizes modules to Javabeans

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 53 System and User Perspective

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We present the proposed process of integrating HPCC and Enterprise Computing technologies on 2-dimensional 3x3 chart, exposing the evolution of user and system perspectives on new computing technologies.

On the (vertical) system/complexity axis, we start from PC desktop and we evolve towards distributed and finally HPCC computing.

On the (horizontal) user/simplicity axis, we start from objects and we evolve towards reusable components and finally their visual development and runtime environments.

The first row on our char represents the already established PC technologies exemplified by systems such as Visual C++/J++, VBScript, Borland Delphi, Visual Cafe etc.

The second row corresponds to the emergent Object Web based Enterprise Computing that integrates Java/JavaBeans based component technologies with CORBA based distributed objects.

Finally, the third row represents our proposed HPCC extensions of these technologies in terms of HP-CORBA based HP-Components.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 54 Approaches to Distributed Objects

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

At present, JavaBeans technology is focused on component programming within a single Java VM.

Within the Sun philosophy of '100% Java', distributed Beans can be developed using RMI interconnect. However, the rest of the industry tries to protect their C++ investments while converting to Java.

Hence, in parallel with JavaBeans development, the Web industry explores now the linkage of Java with CORBA based distributed object technologies which offer an full C++/Java interoperability.

CORBA supports cross-language remote object invocation as well as IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol) based interoperability between object brokers from various vendors.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 55 Java ORB Approaches to Distributed Objects - II The object web awakens!

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Of particular interest are Java based ORBs or ORBlets which can be downloaded as applets to enable CORBA capabilities also at the client/browser side.

An alternative, offered by Netscape, is a resident ORB support in all browser and server products.

Java based ORBs will soon turn the Web, so far acting as a largely passive document publishing framework, into a powerful dynamic world-wide distributed object-based computing environment.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 56 HP-CORBA - I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Now consider how to make the Object Web High performance.

In the object domain we propose the extension HP-CORBA of the CORBA model for the HPCC domain by developing a minimal high performance ORB on top of MPI/Nexus.

Such HP-ORBlets, residing in the individual nodes of a parallel system (either as network daemons or as runtime libraries) would allow one to hide explicit message passing calls in terms of higher level more user-friendly remote object invocations.

These are decomposed data parallel parts on tier 3 invoked from tier 1

HP-ORBlets would focus on high performance data/method communication support, whereas the lower bandwidth control communication would be passed to and handled by the full functionality lower performance commercial ORBs in the CORBA bus in the middleware layer.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 57 HP-CORBA - II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

The split between data and control communication would be fully transparent at the program's level, i.e. both parallel object developers and integrators would be offered a uniform CORBA object based programming model.

This is like parallel data bases and possible for same reason that parallelism in CORBA has no difficult side effect problems as in parallel Fortran...

Two major advantages of the proposed approach are:

Full C++/Java interoperability at the node program level which allows for gradual insertion of Java based parallel programming tools to come
Industry standards (CORBA services such as Naming or Trader) based mechanism for delivering the encapsulated parallel objects to the industry.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 58 Metacomputing with Web Architecture

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

It is natural to base on either a network of Web Clients or Web Servers

Not clear if distinction (in capability) between web servers and clients will remain as clients are adding functionality and any PC can run a server as well as a client!

Web Client Models Include SuperWeb (Javelin) from UCSB and are well illustrated by the January 1997 hotwired article "Suck your Mips".

Greater functionality but less power and pervasiveness is a pure Web Server model as proposed by NPAC

Can either use in controlled (IntraNets or run a server on every node of your MPP) or uncontrolled (all the world wide web hosts) fashion
Uncontrolled mode has interesting economic implications and is "controversial" for security and network performance area

Note total compute power in all Web "clients" is about 100 times that in all Central Supercomputers

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 59 Tango Collaboration System

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

An Applet based system using LiveConnect and plugin with Netscape3 and Signed Applets with Netscape4

Supports general shared event model of collaboration where it can share applications in Java, JavaScript, C, VRML, C++ (Open Inventor)

Event sharing coordinated by Java Server

Has conventional general tools

Audio/Video Conferencing, Chat rooms, Whiteboard

Developed for command and control

Most extensively used in education -- especially for course between Syracuse and Jackson State

Using JavaScript "guided tour" WebWisdom linking to 18,000 foils

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 60 New Directions for Tango

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Education applications include "classic guided tour" and more interestingly shared simulations

mechanics of springs, planets
Explore new DoD Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative based on distributed objects

Delivering "consulting" version to DoD (CEWES)

Shared editor/source code viewers, debugger, visualization (SciVis 40,000 lines of Java) etc.

Need to make even more robust/"user error proof"

More sophisticated multi-room customizable version under development

Develop database backend for logging of sessions

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 61 CORBA Software Model

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

WorkFlow

ORB

System Management

HPcc ?

..............

Trader

Security

..........

Naming

Persistence

Oil & Gas

DMSO Modeling and Simulation

Imagery

Banking

Manufacturing

......

Services

Horizontal Facilities

Vertical

Facilities

Standard Interfaces

i.e. Frameworks

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 62 Multi Tier Client-Server-Service Examples I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Client Applet

with JDBC and user (form)

interface

Oracle Database

Java Socket

Oracle Driver

OCI

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 63 Multi Tier Client-Server-Service Examples II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Client with Applet Javabean

Vendor Specific

Object Broker

Object

Database

IIOP

Custom

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 64 HLA Web CORBA COM Javabeans Computational Grids for the IMT FMS User .... December 4,1997 ARL IMT Training http://osprey7.npac.syr.edu:1998/iwt98/projects/webhla/ http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/HPcc/HPcc.html

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University

NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 65 Abstract of Distributed Object Technology for FMS and IMT

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

As distributed computing and information systems become more important, object technology seems the only way to manage and re-use components whether they be web pages, database records, Java Applets, Fortran Codes or .....

We note that the commercial world is developing CORBA COM and Javabeans which will merge in the object Web

HLA is an innovative object technology for distributed simulation which is likely to merge naturally with these broad trends

FMS and IMT applications are likely to make increasing use of commercial Web and Object Technology!

We need to develop high performance versions of commercial standards to support many DoD and other HPCC user needs

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 66 Glossary of Terms I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTTP (Hyper Text Transport Mechanism)

A stateless transport protocol allowing control information and data to be transmitted between web clients and servers.�

Web Client

Originally web clients displayed HTML and related pages but now they support Java Applets that can be programmed to give web clients the necessary capabilities to support general enterprise computing. The support of signed applets in recent browsers has removed crude security restrictions, which handicapped previous use of applets.

Web Servers

Originally Web Servers supported HTTP requests for information - basically HTML pages but included the invocation of general server side programs using the very simple but arcane CGI - Common Gateway Interface. A new generation of Java servers have enhanced capabilities including server side Java program enhancements (Servlets) and support of stateful permanent communication channels.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 67 Today's Interoperating Hybrid Server Architecture

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 68 Glossary of Terms II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture)

An approach to cross-platform cross-language distributed object developed by a broad industry group, the OMG. CORBA specifies basic services (such as naming, trading, persistence) the protocol IIOP used by communicating ORBS, and is developing higher level facilities which are object architectures for specialized domains such as banking.

COM (Common Object Model)

Microsoft's windows object model, which is being extended to distributed systems and multi-tiered architectures. ActiveX controls are an important class of COM object, which implement the component model of software. The distributed version of COM used to be called DCOM.

ComponentWare

An approach to software engineering with software modules developed as objects with particular design frameworks (rules for naming and module architecture) and with visual editors both to interface to properties of each module and also to link modules together.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 69 Pure CORBA Architecture for a distributed Information System (There are similar COM and Javabean /RMI Versions)

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 70 Glossary of Terms III

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

OMG (Object Management Group)

OMG is the organization of over 700 companies that is developing CORBA through a process of call for proposals and development of consensus standards.

ORB (Object Request Broker)

Used in both clients and servers in CORBA to enable the remote access to objects. ORB's are available from many vendors and communicate via the IIOP protocol.

IIOP (Internet Inter Orb Protocol)

A stateful protocol allowing CORBA ORB's to communicate with each other, and transfer both the request for a desired service and the returned result.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 71 Glossary of Terms IV

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Javabean

Part of the Java 1.1 enhancements defining design frameworks (particular naming conventions) and inter Javabean communication mechanisms for Java components with standard (Bean box) or customized visual interfaces (property editors). Enterprise Javabeans are Javabeans enhanced for server side operation with capabilities such as multi user support. Javabeans are Java's component technology and in this sense are more analogous to ActiveX than either COM or CORBA. However Javabeans augmented with RMI can be used to build a "pure Java" distributed object model.

RMI (Remote Method Invocation)

A somewhat controversial part of Java 1.1 in the enterprise framework which specifies the remote access to Java objects with a generalization of the UNIX RPC (Remote Procedure Call).

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 72 Glossary of Terms V

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Object Web

The evolving systems software middleware infrastructure gotten by merging CORBA with Java. Correspondingly merging CORBA with Javabeans gives Object Web ComponentWare. This is expected to compete with the COM/ActiveX architecture from Microsoft.

JDBC (Java Data Base Connection)

A set of interfaces (Java methods and constants) in the Java 1.1 enterprise framework, defining a uniform access to relational databases. JDBC calls from a client or server Java program link to a particular "driver" that converts these universal database access calls (establish a connection, SQL query, etc.) to particular syntax needed to access essentially any significant database.�

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 73 Glossary of Terms VI

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HPCC (High Performance Computing and Communication)

Originally a formal federal initiative but even after this ended in 1996, this term is used to describe the field devoted to solving large-scale problems with powerful computers and networks.

Computational Grid

A recent term used by the HPCC community to describe large scale distributed computing which draws on analogies with electrical power grids as enabling a revolution

HPcc (High Performance commodity computing)

NPAC project to develop a commodity computing based high performance computing software environment. Note that we have dropped "communications" referred to in the classic HPCC acronym. This is not because it is unimportant but rather because a commodity approach to high performance networking is already being adopted. We focus on high level services such as programming, data access and visualization that we abstract to the rather wishy-washy "computing" in the HPcc acronym.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 74 A Parallel Computer Viewed as a Single CORBA Object

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

This is classic host-node computing model

Host is logically distinct but can be on same machine as a "node"

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 75 Each Node of a Parallel Computer viewed as a Separate CORBA Object

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 76 A Message or Protocol Optimization Bridge

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 77 Glossary of Terms VII

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

FMS (Forces Modeling and Simulation)�

A major class of DoD (Department of Defense) applications, which are often termed "war-games". FMS either involves virtual time event driven simulations or real-time simulations involving people and military vehicles or instruments in the loop. Typically FMS uses a geographically distributed set of computers to simulate a geographically distributed application.

IMT (Integrated Modeling and Testing)

A major class of DoD applications aimed at detailed simulation of the capabilities of military subsystems such as a new tank. IMT simulations tend to be similar to FMS but include more detail for the component being tested. IMT can involve real systems in the loop, and is of growing importance as DoD cuts back on expensive physical tests. Civilian analogues are car crash simulations used in the automobile industry and computational fluid dynamics simulations substituting for wind tunnels in the aeronautics industry.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 78 Glossary of Terms VIII

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

DIS (Distributed Interactive Simulation)

Original framework developed in such projects as SIMNET, to support FMS and IMT applications. HLA and RTI are superceding DIS.

HLA (High Level Architecture)

Current object architecture for FMS and IMT applications. HLA (and RTI) are expected to become a CORBA facility.

RTI (Run Time Infrastructure)

Run time defined to support HLA compliant simulations including "federated" interoperable simulations. Can be thought of as "IIOP plus Time Management"

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 79 Year 2 FMS PET Tasks at NPAC - Overview

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

In Year 2, we start implementing tasks along our High Performance Object Web based FMS Roadmap, outlined in Year 1

We address 7 focused tasks, grouped in 3 domains:

Technology Watch and Web based Training
Planning Parallel Ports of M&S Modules
WebHLA Software Development

Technology Watch and Training (3 tasks) is supported by ARL;

Planning Parallel Ports (2 tasks) and WebHLA Software Development (2 tasks) are split between ARL and CEWES

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 80 Year 2 FMS PET Tasks at NPAC - Description Technology Watch and Web based Training

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

1) General FMS Support and Technology Tracking

On the FMS side, monitor SPEEDES, TEMPO, IMPORT, E-ModSAF
On the Object Web side, monitor CORBA and DCOM

2) FMS Training

Development and Delivery on base FMS courses and tutorials
Augment DMSO HLA Training by HPCC and Object Web issues

3) Development of SPEEDES Training

Install SPEEDES and NPAC and ARL, analyze, develop demos
Develop and deliver Web based Interactive Training material

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 81 Planning Parallel Ports of M&S Modules

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

4) Planning for Distributed/Parallel RTI

Understand what does it take to get DMSO RTI source code
Evaluate feasibility of shared memory parallel port

5) Parallel CMS Planning

CMS (Comprehensive Mine Simulator) is a join Army/Navy large scale DIS simulation problem (the challenge is to handle up to 1 million mines)
Familiarize with the CMS system, evaluate feasibility of shared memory parallel port

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 82 WebHLA Software Development

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

6) WebFlow based Visual Simulation Tools

Analyze current family of OMDT tools (by AEgis, TASC)
Develop next generation visual authoring tools using NPAC WebFlow technology

7) Object Web RTI Prototype

Develop Java/CORBA based RTI prototype
Evaluate its feasibility to glue together DMSO RTIs at individual MSRCs and/or DCs towards World-Wide FMS

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 83 Implementation Plan

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Limited resources and aggressive Year 2 program requires tight integration and software reuse between tasks

Core technology for both development projects will be provided by NPAC WORB - our new Java/CORBA/COM based component broker - acting both as new WebFlow server in Task 6) and RTI node agent in Task 7).

We will evaluate new Java COTS for Task 6 GUI such as Visual Cafe by Symantec, JavaStudio by Sun, VisualAge by IBM, JBuilder by Borland.

Working with SPEEDES in Task 3) will provide insights into non-trivial Time Management issues for Task 7) which are not fully resolved by the current DMSO RTI

Parallel port planning (Tasks 4,5) will provide specification requirements for the next stage (Year 3) High Performance Object Web FMS infrastructure

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 84 Expected Year 2 Deliverable and Year 3 Proposals

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Technology Watch and Web based Training

Deliver base WebFMS and specialized SPEEDES training
Develop proposals for TEMPO and IMPORT/ISLE training

Planning Parallel Ports of M&S Modules

Deliver feasibility studies for RTI and CMS parallel ports
Develop porting proposals (if applicable)

WebHLA Software Development

Deliver proof-of-the-concept Object Web RTI, coupled with visual authoring toolkit
Develop proposals (for HPCMO/PET, HPCMO/CHSSI, DMSO, BDMO?) for continued development and productization of both prototypes

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 85 High Performance Computing (HPCC) based on Commodity(Web, CORBA,COM) Technologies December 27,97 -- January 6,98 Beijing and Chang Sha (Hunan Province) China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University

NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 86 Abstract of Commodity Technologies in HPCC for China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We discuss role of commodity (Web) technologies in future high performance computing environments

We describe how a network of Web/CORBA/COM servers architecture can naturally support both parallel and distributed computing while

We describe applications to both metacomputing, and parallel computing

We suggest critical importance of CORBA and component based software in HPCC -- Javabeans seem very important

We recommend agreement on standard interfaces or frameworks for computing and essentially seamless user interfaces

We describe role of collaboration technology in linking computers with people

We describe use of Java as a general coding language for scientific and engineering computation

This approach unifies distributed event driven simulations with classic massively parallel time stepped computations

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 87 WebWisdom An Object Web approach to Education and Training December 27,97 -- January 6,98 Beijing and Chang Sha Hunan China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University

NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 88 Abstract of WebWisdom Object Web for Education and Training for China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We describe the Pragmatic Object Web (POW) model integrating Java COM and CORBA

We present an overall architecture for a fully POW based virtual learning system including Web-linked database at its heart

We consider applications which combine asynchronous and synchronous learning and combine education and training

We describe Tango Collaborative Infrastructure in the above context

We use examples from K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Education including special (handicapped users) education

Can traditional universities survive this revolution or perhaps some will grow from it !?

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 89 Some General Remarks

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

What is the "Enterprise" (business) model for (science) education and indeed universities themselves as an institution?

US has a clear industrial information technology leadership in spite of perceived K-12 and undergraduate educational problems

It imports expertise and exports graduate education very effectively
How will growth in educational capabilities of China impact this enterprise model!

My physics students rarely end up in physics but do find that physics taught them good problem solving skills.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 90 Technology Opportunities in Education I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Developments in Object Web (Java, CORBA databases etc) will give higher quality basic curricula with glossaries, database backends, reusable objects etc.

More modular approach to educational material

Virtual Laboratories for Science -- including computer science (programming)

See Phy105/106 Applets, VRML2 as in Visible Human, languages from Fortran to SQL with Web Interfaces

Voice(RealAudio) and Video(H263) capture of teacher as augmentation of lecture curricula material

Record when teacher is delivering to capture adrenaline enhancements

Searchable video archives for finding critical few minute length clips to use in class

More useful han searching 10,000 movies for "Jaws 7" which makes poor use of digital video

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 91 Technology Opportunities in Education II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Collaboration Technology designed to link people, computers and instruments (accelerators, telescopes ..) together

Immersive Virtual Environments using VRML

Modeling and Simulation as used by US defense community (generalized flight simulation)

Log accesses using databases and analyze results (data-mining) for assessment

All these technologies can be used synchronously (with teacher) or asynchronously (exploratory learning in students' time)

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 92 Educational Glossary I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Asynchronous Instruction: Students browse material independently from each other and from teacher. Communicate through generalized email such as threaded discussion lists (as in Lotus Notes) or MOO's

Synchronous Instruction: As in a classroom teacher and students interact in real-time exchanging information by audio, video and documents. Microsoft NetMeeting, NPAC Tango and NCSA Habanero implement this digitally

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 93 Educational Glossary II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Distributed Educational Object: Unit of Instruction which can be re-used and addressed using either Web or CORBA model of distributed objects

Could be a Web page in HTML, Java, VRML or larger or smaller granularity
Natural size is a "screenful" which can be aggregated

"Metadata": Aspects of educational objects which are inherited from their view as documents

Author, Version, Abstract etc.
Naturally arranged hierarchically from foil,foilset,course,curricula, department,University, Country ...

Educational Object properties: are those properties specific to its educational use and would differ between computer science and physics

"Programming Laboratory features"; Java simulations of Physics etc.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 94 Educational Glossary III

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Server-Side Dynamic HTML: HTML generated from a database and so page contents depend dynamically on values of current user or administrator (teacher) set parameters

Client-Side Dynamic HTML: HTML includes JavaScript and so exhibiting dynamic behavior depending on client side actions. Typically generated from back-end static pages but no reason why JavaScript enabled pages cannot be generated from a database

JavaScript: Interpreted language which is embedded in HTML or used server-side in Netscape servers as LiveWire. JavaScript is Java-like but less powerful but often faster both in execution and for developer as fully interpreted and integrated into client or server -- Not certain if MicroSoft and Netscape will agree on language

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 95 Educational Glossary IV

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Database Backend: used to store educational objects -- curricula, grades, quizzes; personal data (students and teachers); assessment logs; multimedia records of classes

Web-linked database: A database used with a Web client front end. This can use various technologies:

Perl CGI Scripts such as oraperl for Oracle
Template based Web front-ends such as Cold Fusion
Specialized solutions such as Oracle Web Server and Lotus Notes
Good but out-dated solutions such as PL/SQL generating HTML from Oracle database
General JDBC Java or Javabean (componentware) modules

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 96 Educational Glossary V

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Audio or Video over Foils: Multimedia clips are attached to individuals pages of a presentation. These are either recorded from "teacher in action" or in more formal but perhaps less spontaneous studio presentations.

Can play in carousel mode (all foils one after another) or individually
Can have multimedia file drive documents or vice-versa or both ways.
Multimedia data also stored in database although typically store pointers to flat files

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 97 Educational Glossary VI

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

MOO: Rather controversial form of asynchronous collaboration supporting rooms and a simple "virtual world" view with often text supplying illusion of a more familiar virtual interaction space

Threaded Discussion Space: Hierarchically organized asynchronous collaboration with (text) messages from a chat room, bulletin board or mail interaction

Lotus Notes is a document database supporting asynchronous collaboration and offering a web front end. Offers a JDBC/ODBC interface and so can be viewed as a particular form of a relational database with tools to support collaboration. Has security features

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 98 Educational Glossary VII

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Shared Display technology replicates "portions of a frame-buffer" from one machine onto all machines sharing view

Shared Event approach to collaboration only shares the information (parameter changes, mouse movements) needed to specify an application

User is free to only share some events allowing others to be customized separately on each shared instance

Microsoft NetMeeting is a well-known shared display PC technology

Incorporated as one possible application in Tango

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 99 Educational Glossary VIII

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Habanero from NCSA supports elegantly synchronous sharing of Java objects allowing multiple clients replicated views of arbitrary Java objects. Runs as a Java application and cannot be integrated with major browsers except HotJava

Sharing same as collaboration

Tango from NPAC is a Web browser based synchronous collaboration system allowing objects to be in any language including Java, VRML, JavaScript, C++

User must supply events to be shared through well defined API's
Needs a plugin for Netscape3 but uses signed Applets and no plugins for IE4 and Netscape4

Habanero and Tango both support event sharing model

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 100 Educational Glossary IX

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Education: Learning fundamental principles (such as the reasons why a language is what it is) which typically takes a long time (from years for a degree to several months for a course)

typically offered by non-profit organizations such as schools and universities

Training: Learning technical skills such as a computer language in a time which is usually measured in days or weeks

you can train HPF but educate in data-parallel languages
often offered by commercial companies
often associated with retraining workers (continuing "education")

However education and training have similar technology support issues

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 101 Educational Glossary X

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Computer Aided Instruction: typically an asynchronous learning tool -- originally CDROM based -- but often now based on multimedia web presentations.

Has typically not been successful in education

Flight Simulators: High end Computer aided instruction used in general to train defense and industry workers in particular difficult tasks.

Creates a virtual world and closely related to gaming technology

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 102 Virtual Classrooms: Electronic University Class

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We deliver class from a central site to several different places linked by pervasive Web Technology

Synchronous (delivery) plus asynchronous (self study and homework) collaboration technology improves current class experience as material better
As preparation leveraged over more students
Local people become mentors and this is text book model of today applied to delivery and preparation of lectures and homework
Students sits in front of individual or shared computer screen
Is central site a new or traditional type of entity (the individual "independent" Professor, a commercial company or a University?)

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 103 Virtual Classrooms: Televirtual Environment

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

This generalized "flight simulator" and MOO's and constructs an electronic virtual environment which emulates some optimal learning space

Could use distributed simulation technology and involves multiple individuals (avatars)

The technology of simple virtual classroom could also be used as part of this

Builds on gaming industry and could involve high performance computing to support multiple virtual participants in complex world

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 104 Database Architecture for WebWisdom

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Data Defining Content of Curricula Pages

Server side

Java(JDBC) or

LiveWire

Templates Defining How educational data stored in Pages

Web Server

Conventional but Dynamic HTML Pages

Web Browser

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 105 Pragmatic Object Web Technology Model

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

The current incoherent but highly creative Web will merge with distributed object technology in a multi-tier client-server-service architecture with Java based combined Web-ORB's

COM(Microsoft) and CORBA(world) are competing cross platform and language object technologies

Javabeans plus RMI is 100% Java distributed object technology

Need to abstract entities (Web Pages, simulations) and services as objects with methods(interfaces)

How do we do this while infrastructure still being designed!

One can anticipate this by building systems in terms of Javabeans e.g. develop Web-based databases with Javabeans using standard JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) interfaces

Design and Use Java Framework for Computing which will become a "CORBA facility"

Do not sacrifice significant performance!

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 106 Some More Detailed Trends in HPCC

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Use of Commodity hardware: PC's offer best performance per dollar (Gigaflop for $30,000)

Use of Commodity software: Windows NT, COM, CORBA, web, Java, VRML ....

Use of Web to produce Seamless (universal) computer interfaces

Java replacing C++ and Fortran for Numerical Computation

Use of databases and collaboration technology to link people, databases and simulation

Integration of parallel and distributed computing

Use of distributed objects (CORBA) to encapsulated remote services

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 107 Object Web Software is the Best

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

By definition, Object Web software is and will even more so, be the "best" software ever built because it has the largest market and greatest leverage of investment dollars

Further most creative business model - harness the world's best minds together with open interfaces
Note previously PC software and IBM business OS were high quality software but not so open and not a complete model

On should build upwards from the "democratic Web"

e.g. up from POTS --> ISDN / Cable Modem --> ...
Not down from <---- ATM

This allows you to both deliver your application to the general public (when required) and leverage best software

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 108 We have the Object Web Tools in Place I

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Web, Object technologies and their linkage is still uncertain and there may be many changes but there are "enough" capabilities in place to build very general (essentially all?) applications

COM v. CORBA; role of Java, JavaScript uncertain

Field characterized by rapidly evolving standards and mechanisms to achieve rapid consensus

Fortran77 --> Fortran90 --> HPF --> Fortran2000 -- 23 years

VRML idea (1994) --> VRML1 deployed (95) --> VRML2 deployed (early 97) -- 2.3 years

VRML2 with 3D datastructures and Java(Script) enabled methods is as sophisticated as Fortran1
Java was also deployed very fast and now has much better learning resources than any other language -- Java Tools are better than Fortran and rapidly overtaking C++

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 109 We have the Object Web Tools in Place II

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Classic Web: HTTP MIME HTML CGI Perl etc.

Java and JavaScript varying from compiled to almost compiled (applet) to fully interpreted Programming Language

VRML2 as a dynamic 3D data structures for defining products and results of simulations

Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) enables easy integration of databases into any system

CORBA and COM maturing with Javabeans offering a visual (ComponentWare) object interface

Dynamic Java Server and Clients

Rich Web Collaboration Environment building electronic societies and linking people with computers

Security model well understood and needs deployment of public key infrastructure

Compression technology and Quality of Service for multimedia delivery also understood but again not generally deployed so the needed bandwidth (>= 100 kilobits) for reasonable video delivery is not generally available.

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 110 Computational Grid and the Object Web

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Larry Smarr and NCSA Collaboration have stressed analogy of deployment of computer/communication technology with impact that electrical and transportation grids had

I.e. they enabled revolutions in society
What is relative role of High-end and Commodity end in Grid?

The transportation system was built using lessons from and feed up/down from Sports cars, Cadillacs, Model T's, Ford Escorts etc.

Computational Grid will be shaped by and shape all 5 classes of applications on previous foil

Everybody would perhaps agree on general statement but perhaps disagree on importance of it

A highish end computational grid will in some sense (to be disagreed on) be influenced by and influence the "Object Web" which is here defined as "mass-market"/business IntraNet (low to low) use of Internet/distributed Information Systems

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 111 Status of HPCC in USA and High Performance Computing (HPCC) based on Commodity Technologies December 27,97 -- January 6,98 Beijing and Chang Sha (Hunan Province) China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University

NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 112 Abstract of Commodity Technologies in HPCC for China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We describe some aspects of HPCC in USA and in particular the new NCSA computational alliance and the proposed petaflop initiative

We discuss role of commodity (Web) technologies in future high performance computing environments

We describe how a network of Web/CORBA/COM servers architecture can naturally support both parallel and distributed computing while

We describe applications to both metacomputing, and parallel computing

We suggest critical importance of CORBA and component based software in HPCC -- Javabeans seem very important

We describe role of collaboration technology in linking computers with people

We describe use of Java as a general coding language for scientific and engineering computation

This approach unifies distributed event driven simulations with classic massively parallel time stepped computations

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 113 Three Roles of Object Web Technologies in Computing

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

1)One can "just" use Object Web technologies as a software infrastructure for building parallel, distributed or sequential computing environments which can have a very different architecture from the Web

e.g. write software in Java
e.g. adopt interfaces/standards such as JDBC, VRML, Java3D

2)Harness the power of the Web as a computer -- use up the idle cycles on the WebTV's in every home -- typically a Web Client based system

We will not discuss this here

3)One can view the Object Web as a distributed information system with modest performance and build a metacomputing system with the Web architecture

we "only" need to enhance the Object Web to get high performance
several ways of doing this -- common feature is that they all inherit rich web capabilities -- typically Web or Object Server based
By inheriting Object Web architecture, naturally track evolving and improving commodity technology base

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 114 WebWisdom Collaboration Database and Web Technology for Education and Training December 27,97 -- January 6,98 Beijing and Chang Sha Hunan China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

Geoffrey Fox

Syracuse University

NPAC

111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100

3154432163

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 115 Abstract of WebWisdom Tango and Web for Education and Training for China

From General NPAC Foils-B starting June97(PowerPoint) General Research -- June-December 97. *

Full HTML Index

We use examples from K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Education including special (handicapped users) education

We consider applications which combine asynchronous and synchronous learning and combine education and training

We describe general computer based approaches to distance learning and the virtual classroom

We describe Tango Collaborative Infrastructure in the above context and review general collaboration approaches

We present an overall architecture for a fully POW based virtual learning system including Web-linked database at its heart

Can traditional universities survive this revolution or perhaps some will grow from it !?

If you have any comments about this server, send e-mail to webmaster@npac.syr.edu.

Page produced by wwwfoil on Thu Jan 8 1998