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Gaining access to nearly unlimited computational power and data storage
using a simple network connection, much like an Internet connection, and
without worrying about what goes on behind the electrical outlet, is a
dream that many scientists are attempting to make a reality. To encourage
the sharing of research findings in the fields of distributed computing
and distributed data with the worlds of industry and business, the CNRS/IN2P3
and the firm CS Communication et Systèmes signed a collaboration
contract on March 12, 2002.
Given the growing needs for
data storage and numerical computing, an idea emerged several years ago
in the United States: that of harnessing the remarkable computational
power potentially available worldwide using thousands of computers distributed
across the planet, from individual computers to computational centers.
Computational grids have since been created, some of which have become
very famous, such as SETI@home to search for extraterrestrial signals,
and Napster for musical exchanges on the Internet.
In Europe, the CNRS is one of the six main partners of the DataGrid project.
The purpose of this project is to design a model and supply the necessary
tools that will enable scientists to store and process considerable volumes
of data, at times with a broad geographical distribution, and to work
with large databases located at different points across the globe.
IN2P3's primary contribution to DataGrid has to do with supplying the
platform for large-scale testing for the entire project. A first test
bed was deployed successfully in 2001 with the first integrated version
of the DataGrid software. Today applications are available for users in
the scientific fields covered by DataGrid. These include high energy physics,
computing services, and access to the enormous quantities of data (several
PetaBytes) that will be produced by experiments with the LHC (Large Hadron
Collider), the future accelerator at CERN.
CS Communication et Systèmes* is also involved
in this project as a European partner and is in charge of quality in particular.
This company is a major player in the integration and use of secure communications
infrastructures and technical and scientific applications, with years
of proven expertise and know-how. Computational grids are one of its current
fields of scientific investigation.
Upholding the CNRS policy to develop applications for scientific research,
the IN2P3 began looking for partners very early on. CS would like to be
one of the French engines for developing industrial applications of the
DataGrid software and was invited to take part in a collaboration project
for the development and adaptation of this software to meet its customers'
needs. According to the collaboration contract signed on March 12, 2002,
IN2P3 will share its know-how with CS by mobilizing competent research
teams and ensuring the implementation of the necessary technical resources.
This agreement paves the way for very interesting prospects for the distribution
of future products in the socio-economic sphere.
* The
firm CS Communication et Systèmes employs over 4,000 people. In
2001, it generated revenues of euros 428 million. Its head office is located
in Clamart, France.
CS Press
contact:
Barbara GOARANT
Tel : +33 1 41 28 46 94
e-mail : barbara.goarant@c-s.fr
CNRS-IN2P3 contact:
Dominique ARMAND
Tel : +33 1 44 96 47 51
e-mail : Dominique.Armand@cnrs-dir.fr
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