Transcript Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)

Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Where, Why, What and When…
Ian Atkinson
HPC Research and Development,
James Cook University
(http://www.jcu.edu.au/hpc)
Deputy Director,
Queensland Parallel Supercomputing Foundation
(http://www.qpsf.edu.au)
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Greater Regional University Network Tails
GRUNT – Son of RUNT?
• Regional Universities and campuses are the tails of
AARNet2 and are traditionally poorly served by
broadband data communications
• 1997 the RUNT RFP
• 2000 Dr David Kemp announced a one of special
allocation of $3.2M over two years to support the most
‘data disadvantaged’ institutions
• Short term ‘stop-gap’ solution
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
GRUNT Network - Telstra connections into AARNet2
QRNO Connections
• JCU - Townsville 155/16, Cairns 34/8
CQU - Rockhampton 155/16, Mackay 34/16
USQ - Toowoomba 155/8, Harvey Bay 34/4
USC - Sippy Downs 8/2
NSWRNO Connections
• UNE - Armadale 155/8
SCU - Connection into Big Pond
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Overview
• QARN – The requirement
• QARN - Development Process
• QPSF Background, Credentials and Projects
• ANP Program
• Future Options for QARN
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Purpose of QARN
“I want us to focus heavily on innovation and
IT, and I believe very strongly, unless we
innovate we’re going to be left behind.
Innovation, innovation, innovation! It is our
future. We live…in a very ugly and a very
competitive world”
(Premier Peter Beattie speech to the Property Council
of Australia, 6 March 2001)
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
QARN - The Regional Need
James Cook University
– 7 CRC’s;
– International leadership in several areas of marine science
and tropical ecology;
– Alliances with economically significant industries
(sugar, mining & mineral exploration, tourism etc.)
– high performance computing
• ~100 GFLOPS capacity
• >$500,000 p.a. spend on central HPC resources
• national competitive research grants
• remote and electronic library access; teaching and
learning
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• capacity to recruit and retain staff of high quality
Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
QARN - The Project
• Queensland presents several unique networking
problems in the Australian context
• Initiated by the Queensland State Government
– Communication and Information
– Education
– State development
• QPSF as the applying body
– Incorporated organisation
– Research flavour
• Consultant appointed to assist with ANP application
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Main features of QARN
• Proposal to ANP - Advanced Networks Program
• Accelerates an urgent need in Queensland for
bandwidth for use by the research community
• Co-operative participation by government,
academia and the private sector
• Large financial contribution by applicants
• High level of current demand and growth potential
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Main features of QARN
• Very experienced project management team
• Established management structure for ongoing
operation
• Large user base already committed to QuestNet/
GRUNT
• Initial conservative design capable of upgrading
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Network Map
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
South East Queensland Network Map
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Network Schematic
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Nature of the Technology
• A hybrid network employing best available
infrastructure that balances demand with cost
• Network build within constraints resulting from
large distances and a decentralised population
• Builds on existing QUESTNet infrastructure,
resources and services
• Mature but capable network technology; based
on current commercial standards; capacity to
embrace future standards
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Nature and Range of Organisations and Individuals
Involved in the Project
Queensland
Parallel
Supercomputing
Foundation
Griffith University
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Creative Industries Precinct
Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Outcomes and Benefits
• Eliminate “Digital Divide” between city and country
• Assist skills development and retention in regional
areas
• Encouragement of collaborative research and
product development
• Facilitate the formation of relationships and
personal networks amongst industry, academia
and government
• Improve the social and economic well being of
citizens
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Why is External Funding Required
• External funding is required to ignite the QARN
project
– Choice of a single step of multi step implementation
• Current telecommunications charges are
exorbitant
• Queensland’s regional universities struggle to
gain access to even minimum levels of
bandwidth to meet current requirements
• Reef Network provides a unique opportunity to
use Queensland Rail optic fibre
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Funding Support
High Level of Government and Partner Support:
– Queensland Rail providing optical fibre access at 50% of
commercial rate
– DSTC implementation services, software support
– Regional Partners cash contribution for each connected
location
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Link to National Backbone Network
• Queensland Advanced Research Network is
directly connected with GrangeNet/AARNet for
National and International connectivity
• Queensland Advanced Research Network will
be peered with other networks
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IA
Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Linkages between QARN and Other Networks
• QARN will be Queensland’s primary research
backbone network linking educational,
government and private research organisations
• Interconnection with AARNet2/GrangeNet for
national and international interconnectivity
• Provides linkage with APAC for non-metropolitan
QPSF partners
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Management Structure
QARN Management Organisation
QPSF Board
Chief Executive
Officer
Professor Kevin Burrage
QARN Reference Group
• DIIESRQ
• Dept of State Development
• Office of Higher Education
• DSTC Pty Ltd
• James Cook University
Associate Director
User Support and
Education
Dr Joe Young
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Associate Director
Operations and
Industry Outreach
Mr Andrew Lewis
Committees
• Industry Advisory Committee
• Research and Education Advisory Committee
• Advanced Visualisation Advisory Committee
• Advanced Networks and Communications Committee
Associate Director
Regional Access
Dr Ian Atkinson
QUESTNet
Operational
Network
Management
Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Management Team - Analogous to GRUNT
QARN Project Implementation Team
Project Director
Mr Nick Tate
QUESTNet Reference Group
Project Manager
Mr Wilber Williams
Design and
Engineering
Mr Mahmoud Wafa
Mr Nigel Armfield
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Systems Integration
and Middleware
Dr Andy Bond
• Australian Institute of Marine Science
• Bond University
• Central Queensland University
• Griffith University
• James Cook University
• Queensland University of Technology
• University of Queensland
• University of Southern Queensland
• University of Sunshine Coast
Site
Representatives
Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
QPSF Credentials
• Queensland has flourishing HPC R&D and Educational
Programs with high quality infrastructure since 1990
• QPSF established in 1992 with six Queensland
universities sharing and accessing peak HPC facilities
• In 2000 awarded $10M from State Government funds:
– 20 new staff
– greater than $4 million cash attracted from partners
– HPC capability in Queensland will exceed APAC peak
national facility
– Skills in grid computing
– Technology Diffusion Program
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Initial Demand Generators
Application Areas:
• High Performance Computing
– QPSF Meta centre
• Visualisation Applications
– Distributed visualisation
• Creative Industries Applications
• Telemedicine Applications
• Development of ‘middleware’
• Biotechnology (QPSF focus)
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
Initial Demand Generators (continued)
Industry Groups:
• Sugar industry
• Industrial processes
• Mining industry
• Bio-informatics
• Health sector
• Light metals manufacturing
• Power generation
• Health
• Railway engineering
• Environmental modelling
• Construction engineering • Financial services
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Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
QPSF Projects
•
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Builds on existing skill sets of Queensland researchers
(the Smart State?)
–
Environmental and Earth Sciences – CRCs, State
Government Departments, QUAKES
–
Biotechnology – Universities, IMB, AIMS, CRC’s
–
Information Technology – DSTC, Creative Media and Film
Industries
•
Value adds through Queensland’s ecological and
biodiversities using these skill sets
•
Involves industry through diffusion programs - QMI, QIMR,
IMB (Celera), Boeing, SRI, Mining and Resources
Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
QPSF Indicative Projects
Big Data & Collaborative visualisation
• Virtual Reef
•
A three-dimensional immersive visual environment
of a segment of the Barrier Reef.
Partners include AIMS, CRC Reef Research
• Genomic Collaborative Environments
•
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Develop distributed collaborative environments
which will allow users at remote locations to interrogate,
analyse and interact with genomic and protein data
sets. Partners include AIMS, Celera & IMB,SDSC
Queensland Advanced Research Network (QARN)
QARN - Where to From Here…
• State Government remans committed to QARN
– Major project of new Department of Innovation and the
Information Economy (IIE)
– QARN project officer appointed
• Prepare an application for BARN
• Aggregation of relevant government communications
– Financial Commitment…
• National Communications Fund
– $52M for regional Health and Education applications
• DETYA Broadband Internet Access Program
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– Tender released yesterday!