Stork Delivers Unprecedented Data Capabilities for Scientific Research
A team of researchers from Louisiana State University unveiled a new software package, called Stork Data Scheduler, which makes it easier and more efficient for researchers to access and transfer large data sets.
Stork is a collaborative project between researchers at Louisiana State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Stork team announced the first version (Stork 1.0) is now available for download through the Stork project Web page, www.storkproject.org. Stork is open source, and users can download it for free.
As researchers today increasingly rely on advances in computer systems, they are encountering unprecedented amounts of data that need to be sorted, stored and analyzed. This means researchers need more effective data scheduling, management and storage tools.
Stork, so named because it delivers data, is a batch scheduler program for data that gives researchers greater ease in sharing, storing and accessing data. This allows them to collaborate more easily and effectively with their peers.
Using Stork, researchers can transfer very large data sets with only a single command. Multi-protocol support makes Stork one of the most powerful data transfer tools available. Stork also is compatible with advanced high-performance computing toolkits, and researchers can use the software to access the power of these large systems.
The Stork project lead is LSU Center for Computation &Technology, or CCT, and Department of Computer Science Assistant Professor Tevfik Kosar, who also is addressing the problem of distributed data storage and transfer through the PetaShare project (www.petashare.org). In 2006, Kosar received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create advanced data archival, processing and visualization capabilities. Kosar’s work on the PetaShare project is a tie-in with the Stork project.
Several National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and Office of Naval Research-funded projects are currently using the Stork Data Scheduler.
For more information on the Stork Project, please visit the project Web page at http://www.storkproject.org .
CCT in the News:
• Red Stick International Animation Festival Extends Deadline
Source: Animation World Network
Red Stick International Animation Festival has extended its deadline for entries to the annual "Best of the Fest" competition. Red Stick initially set December 1, 2008, as the deadline, but now will accept entries through January 2, 2009.
http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=25542
• Stork Data Scheduler Now Available
Source: HPC Wire
Louisiana State University Stork team announced today that first full release of Stork Data Scheduler (Stork 1.0) is now available on the Stork Project Web page.
http://www.hpcwire.com/offthewire/First-Full-Release-of-Stork-Data-Scheduler-Now-Available-35476319.html
• HPC Clouds -- Alto Cirrus or Cumulonimbus by Thomas Sterling, Ph.D., and Dylan Stark, Louisiana State University
Published in: HPC Wire
The "cloud" model of exporting user workload and services to remote, distributed and virtual environments is emerging as a powerful paradigm for improving efficiency of client and server operations, enhancing quality of service, and enabling early access to unprecedented resources for many small enterprises. From single users to major commercial organizations, cloud computing is finding numerous niche opportunities, often by simplifying rapid availability of new capabilities, with minimum time to deployment and return on requirements. Yet, one domain that challenges this model in its characteristics and needs is high performance computing (HPC).
http://www.hpcwire.com/specialfeatures/sc08/top/HPC_Clouds_-_Alto_Cirrus_or_Cumulonimbus_34861509.html
• Decoupling HPC From the Datacenter
Source: HPC Wire
The democratization of HPC is unlikely to happen if every company and institution is forced to build and maintain multi-million dollar datacenters to house supercomputers. Power, cooling and space constraints as well as a shortage of system administration expertise will limit the spread of HPC datacenters.
http://www.hpcwire.com/blogs/Decoupling-HPC-From-the-Datacenter-35576624.html
Pats On The Back:
• Congrats to Dan Katz for being one of 2 U.S. core members of the newly approved (UK) eSI theme: “The Influence and Impact of Web 2.0 on e-Research Infrastructure, Applications and Users.”
Upcoming Lectures:
• Sumeet Dua, an associate professor at Louisiana Tech University, will lecture on Friday, Dec. 12, at 11:30 a.m. in Johnston 338 on “Protein Data Mining & Feature Fusion for Translational Bioinformatics.”
Please Note:
• The CCT Faculty Research Retreat is scheduled for January 8 & 9, 2009 in New Orleans.
• Abstracts for Scientific and Statistical Database Management 2009, held in New Orleans, are due on Jan. 9, 2009.
• The Virtual Worlds Research Group meeting for December will take place Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 338 of Johnston Hall. Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
• The NSF Partnership for International Research and Education (PIRE) RFP
is now available at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09505/nsf09505.pdf. Each institution may submit no more than three preliminary proposals. If you plan to submit a preliminary proposal, send an email indicating your interest to dcarver@lsu.edu with a copy to hcarruth@lsu.edu by Dec. 15, 2008 with "NSF Partnership for International Research and Education (PIRE)" as the subject line. You will receive an email acknowledgment within two days. If you do not, please contact Doris Carver at 578-5833. After Dec. 15, you will know whether we will need to hold an internal competition.
• CCT’s Administration staff moved back into the Annex. Staff telephone numbers are the same, but their new office locations in the Annex are as follows:
-Events: Karen, Jennifer, and Susie (rm. 140)
-Business: Theresa (rm. 146-A)
-Grants: Ashlen (rm. 146-B)
-Human Resources: Laurie (rm. 146-C)
-Associate Director of Administration: Joel (rm. 146-F)
-Public Relations: Kristen (rm. 146-G)
- Purchasing Coordinator: Andy (rm. 146-H)
• CCT has been notified of a new requirement concerning all foundation reimbursement requests. In advance of any event that will require foundation reimbursement, such as but not limited to visitor meals over the state per-diem rate or meals/events that include alcoholic beverages, we must submit a prior-approval/advance request for the reimbursements. This request must be submitted for review before the planned expenditure is incurred. Additionally, the request must include (1) a statement indicating the specific program that will benefit from the expenditure and (2) how the program and benefit fit into the CCT's strategic plan. While we apologize for the additional layer of paperwork related to foundation reimbursements, it is essential that we beginning following this new requirement. Active and future foundation reimbursement requests will not be approved and reimbursed unless the additional documentation has been provided. Karen Jones, Theresa Markey, and/or Joel Williams are available to explain how their information needs to be submitted and to help as needed. Please let them know if you have any questions, and thanks in advance for your cooperation.
• CCT is accepting applications from high schools to attend the CyberTools Boot Camp (July 6-10, 2009). If you have worked with Louisiana high school students and know of a school, teacher or students who might be interested, please notify Kathy Traxler, ktraxler@cct.lsu.edu. More information about the camp is available online at: http://www.cct.lsu.edu/CyberToolsCamp09
• If you have any news for the CCT Weekly, please e-mail PR Manager Kristen Sunde directly at ksunde@cct.lsu.edu.
Upcoming Grant Deadlines:
Note: Please see the CCT deadline Web site, as many NSF deadlines are listed here:
http://www.cct.lsu.edu/about/grants/deadlines/events.php
Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI)
December 09 2008 10:00 am
A Portion Of $ 26,000,000.00 available
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08604/nsf08604.htm?govDel=USNSF_25
Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)
January 22 2009 10:00 am
At Most $ 4,000,000.00 available
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09502/nsf09502.htm?govDel=USNSF_25
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)
February 24 2009 10:00 am
At Most $ 5,000,000.00 available
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08611/nsf08611.htm?govDel=USNSF_30
Publish Date:
12-09-2008
