Glenna2/SG-Meeting-2018-04-12
Glenna2 steering group meeting
Time: Thursday 2018-04-12 at 11:30-14:30 CEST
Place: VideoConference https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/g4g5nyl5glc66wqgbqk4yjvb4ua
Live Minutes https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eFp1na1fMz_p6g1K_frbVkSfoBPGsqY0n38m9VCWa_g
Approved: 2018-04-26
Invitations:
- Martin Bech, representing DeIC, DK
- Jussi Heikonen, representing CSC, FI
- Magnús Gíslason, representing CSUI, IS
- Olav Kvittem, representing UNINETT Sigma2, NO
- Andreas Hellander, representing SNIC, SE
- Dan Still Project Manager representing NeIC
- Michaela Barth, NeIC Executive Manager, representing NeIC, Chair
Location
Google Hangouts https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/g4g5nyl5glc66wqgbqk4yjvb4ua
Links
- Project internal wiki: https://wiki.neic.no/int/Glenna2
- Project public homepage: https://wiki.neic.no/wiki/Glenna2
Agenda
- Glenna2 SG 18-09. Welcome and Presence
- Glenna2 SG 18-10. Report on Project Status, Use Cases and Staff Changes from Project Manger
- Glenna2 SG 18-11. NordNWP project and Implications for Glenna2
- Glenna2 SG 18-12. Midterm report - Opportunities
- Glenna2 SG 18-13. NeIC Announcements
- Glenna2 SG 18-14. DP checklist and Business case
- Glenna2 SG 18-15. AOB and Selfassessment
- Glenna2 SG 18-16. Next meeting
Minutes
Glenna2 SG 18-09. Welcome and Presence
(5 min)
Presence: Kasper Sort (stand in for Martin Bech), Jussi Heikonen (arrived 11:50), Magnús Gíslason, Olav Kvittem, Andreas Hellander, Dan Still, Michaela Barth
Apologies:
Glenna2 SG 18-10. Report on Project Status, Use Cases and Staff Changes from Project Manger
30 mins
Presentation: https://wiki.neic.no/w/ext/img_auth.php/d/d7/Glenna2_SG_Meeting_2018-04-12.pdf
Discussion:
All IaaS services in the Nordics accessible in a federated way (through eduGain or some even also through social media). (no cross-border usage as of now though).
SE: Is Gnocchi a fully fledged monitoring tool? Aim1-target2 should be on collect knowledge on and analyse different monitoring tools, the SG is not a technical body to decide on the specific tool, this is up to the PM and the team.
Decision: The SG recommends to apply a common Nordic way to monitor resource provision and usage for the National IaaSs and reformulate Aim1-Target2 not to refer to one specific technology.
Team should be challenged to look at really horizontal scalable (big data!) object storage. New target on Object Store and Ceph could be of definitive interest for SSC. (Swestore has also an Object Store interface, but the actual implementation is politically not completely agreed on yet) If this is in favor of sharing environments for analysis of scientific datasets, this looks very interesting. CSC: definition of a totally new storage component (DataLake) : object storage for project data (not longterm, but project lifetime), supporting various interfaces to enable sharing of data and manage access towards it. Plan to implement and include different data movers to create a very nice way of share and collaborate on data. OpenStack on top of Object store gives a very easy way of containerization. Ceph good enough for high-performance production environment already (compare experiences Swedish sensitive data cloud)?
Level of ambition should also include collaboration with Aim2, so Aim2 can use this multisite data store environment to showcase the possibilities.
Decision: The SG decides to add a new target within Aim1 on Object Store and Ceph for initially 6 months. After 6 months the outcome can again be evaluated. The SG recommends a tight collaboration with Aim2 for this new target.
- AP: PM to prepare updated project plan to SG and circulate to SG.
SE: like to see Aim1 object store target drive demos from Aim2 with good performance.
DataPorten complementing Feide in Norway in new solutions; of strategic national focus for the next years in Norway. Allowing the more dynamically define working groups is a huge benefit for the research groups.
- AP: PM to send an email to NO SG member to discuss transnational use of Dataporten, as likely this will also need additional national supportive infrastructure (IdP servers etc).
- Have to start to market and advertise Aim-4 Nordic support channel more aggressively. Could organize some workshops in the meantime. Could even be just online.
The SG recommends more focus on Aim-4.This could also include dissemination and spreading the word (blog posts, social media, making a real effort trying to reach new users).
Decision: The SG thanks the PM for his work and welcomes the continuation of the project (DP5).
Glenna2 SG 18-11. NordNWP project and Implications for Glenna2
20 mins
Background: https://wiki.neic.no/w/ext/img_auth.php/4/4b/NordNWP_FNeIC_call.pdf
Proposal for funding shares: https://wiki.neic.no/w/ext/img_auth.php/6/6b/NordNWP_funding_Jorn.pdf
Draft Project Directive: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o9qTmfNyVh8wg9Gry9dCL4qgg41sGj3vYcX0sKNn3yw
Discussion:
Split up into prototype and then production phase? Glenna2 as project will end.
Concrete work: one example is setting up SAP on National IaaS.
CSC could, if essential to effort, try to receive matching funding (0.25 FTE per year) from ministry (CSC is having a collaboration with FMI and hosting FMI hardware). More difficult/ impossible for other countries.
Could matching funding also be access to Glenna cloud resources and expertise? This is good value.
Unreasonable to ask for additional funding from the NeIPs. Why should a NeIP pay extra to enable specific research application over the general open approach open to all already now?
Replacing another part, is not an option. Expansion is the way to go to support them. Activity wise it fits within aim4.
For offering financial in-kind from Glenna participants, the use case would also have to be advanced from an infrastructure point of view. Software engineering DevOps consultancy is what is asked here for, this is hard to co-fund from research money. This should also be tried to be synchronized with efforts in aim3.
- Proposal: ask for 1 MNOK, FI and NO and potentially also SE will try to identify national institutions for the additional manpower. The PM is also offered as coordination resource helping with the hiring.
Decision: The SG is very positive to the use case, but recommends not to replace other aims or targets and not to provide “financial” in-kind (see discussion above).
Glenna2 SG 18-12. Midterm report - Opportunities
Discussion:
Provide valuable services to the researchers to be viable beyond.
Capitalizing on the current effort to try to make science with it.
Minimum level not to lose competence would be corresponding to aim1.
Comparison to network model instead of project model?
Funding development in the Nordics is very beneficial.
Aim3 has been of huge importance (Glenna has helped in polishing the container solutions) So there has to be something new. “We should move up the stack”. Help researchers with tools, like machine learning. Maturing. Deep Learning, Tensor Flows will interest many people even in the future.
Machine Learning services as a service?
https://aws.amazon.com/machine-learning/ Build a Nordic version of this “Machine Learning on Glenna” AI networks
Data management and analysis: Many things done in the same way in the Nordic countries. National NextCloud platforms, real targets with development, people sharing code
Decision: PM and PO will prepare for midterm report according to input from this and last SG discussions.
Glenna2 SG 18-13. NeIC Announcements
Topics: NeIC Open Call: all NeIC project steering groups are encouraged to respond to the "Request for Information» for the strategic plan to provide the NeIC Board with the best possible platform for developing the next generation NeIC strategy. Note the strict deadline May 15th. https://neic.no/news/2018/03/22/letters-of-interest/
Discussion:
1 page, collaborative effort, RG members also to be included.
Decision: Olav volunteered to take the leading role to draft the request for information based on discussions today, in the last SG and one2one communication (also outside of the SG). The document will be shared so others can improve. PM and PO will support.
Glenna2 SG 18-14. DP checklist and Business case
Topics: Updated DP checklist document, report first RG meeting and status benefit analysis.
https://wiki.neic.no/wiki/Glenna2/RG-Meeting-2018-03-16
- Glenna2 Benefit objects within business case (DRAFT)
- Business Case Slides:
Discussion:
NO: Losing competencies to industry is not a negative thing, it shows that we are producing relevant knowledge, it is a key value to support for the good of society.
Providing society with competent knowledgeable people.
Sharing knowledge (e.g. copy and paste is saving time and money at the national centers) and improving each others implementations should be key.
Decision: N/A
Glenna2 SG 18-15. AOB and Self assessment
Discussion:
See DP checklist, one more hour for SG meeting worked well.
NordNWP discussion was needed and will provide good feedback.
Decision: N/A
Glenna2 SG 18-16. Next meeting
Decision: Aiming for October: 18th of October 12:00 -15:00 CEST