80
Data
Grids for Large-Scale Fusion Simulations—Tech-X
Corporation,
Mr.
Svetlana Shasharina, Principal Investigator, sveta@txcorp.com
Dr.
John R. Cary, Business Official, cary@txcorp.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83842
Amount:
$749,730
Simulations
and experiments in the fusion community generate large data sets at remote
sites. The visualization and
analysis of these data sets is difficult because the data comes in different
formats; downloading the data to local computers, over even the fastest network
connections, can take hours. In this
project, grid technologies will be applied and extended to the transfer and
access of heterogeneous data sets produced by fusion simulations and
experiments. Phase I performed an
extensive set of performance tests to evaluate two data transfer mechanisms and
formats: MDSplus and GridFTP (with
HDF5 files). Although GridFTP was
shown to be superior for the transfer of large data sets, MDSplus was extremely
well suited to the fusion experimental data. Phase
II will implement a Fusion Grid Service for data transfer and access.
The service will connect heterogeneous data collections, provide
transparent Interactive Data Language and AVS/Express client interfaces with the
MDSplus and GridFTP, and allow for pluggable network protocols.
Also, performance tests will be continued to formulate optimal system
configurations for various types and sizes of data.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: A tool for remote visualization of large data sets should be applicable to any industry where high-performance computing at remote sites is critical. This includes both the aerospace industry, where new designs depend on critical full-scale simulations, and the oil and gas industry, where the discovery of new sources relies heavily on large-scale modeling.