[NRAO]

ADASS 2000

All-in-one version

((Regular [individual slides] version)


http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~pmurphy/Talks/adass2000/

ADASS 2000

A Trip Report

Pat Murphy

2000.11.29

The Astronomical Data Analysis Software & Systems

Tenth Annual Conference
Boston, Massachusetts; 2000.11.12-15

Overview

Obligatory Group Mugshot
Virtual Observatories: NVO, AVO, IVO...
Pipelines: existing and planned
Grids: archives and applications
Summary: There's a boat and we can't miss it!

Introduction

35 (33) Oral Presentations, 8 BOFs, 122 Posters, 14 Demos
Ratings:
- 10 of the 35 were 4-star
- 6 were 3-star
- 11 were 2-star
- 3 were 1-star
- 3 were "NG"
Chandra very prominent; XML, Java, NVO were also major themes
BOFS: NVO, Linux, AIPS++;
missed FITS, IDL, IRAF, SAOImage/DS9, CORBA.

Virtual Observatories

Problems: Bandwidth, Data Mirroring
Software biggest expense, not Hardware
Need CPU power (Analysis Engines) close to data: Virtual Data Grid
Virtual "instruments": special programs, software, pipelines
XML, CORBA likely to have major roles
Need Astronomical Virtual Observatory (international)

Pipelines

Existing Pipelines: Sloan DSS, BIMA, ESO Imaging Survey, GigaWulf
Software becomes a major Scientific Challenge
Pipelines need interactive "hooks" for "guided" processing
Much interest in Linux Clusters ("...in-a-box") and Glish
Sometimes, 2 archives for same data (observations vs. "Science Data")

GRIDS

GRID: distributed computing, resource sharing, co-ordinated problem solving, multi-institution Virtual Organization (Got that?)
Infrastructure for Data-Intensive Science (book)
Done already, e.g. GriPhyN
Layered Approach: Apps -> Tools -> Resource Mgmt. -> Resources.
Globus Project: protocols, tools already developed
XDF: XML based Data Format -> FITSML (VLA example); not a panacea.
XML also used to define data transformations

Linux BOF (Birds Of a Feather) Session

Real Time and Embedded Linux

Types of Real Time: Hard, Soft, and Marketing (!)

"VxWorks is dangerously unreliable"! (cf. Mars Polar Lander)

In RT Linux (RTL), Linux is one of many threads in hard real-time Kernel; supports LabView, GNU debugger (gdb/ddd)

RTAI (competitor) seems not as far ahead (IMO)

Embedded Linux: can fit in 8 Megs or less of NVRAM

Other Miscellany:
- WINE: latest can run M$ Office 2000.
- Plex86, an Open Source VMWare clone.
- Starlink Standard Linux: Install minimum, add as needed.
- GNOME seems likely de facto standard Unix Desktop
- Beowulf: "Don't do it on the cheap! We did..." (Peter Teuben)

Conclusions/Random Impressions

Virtual Observatories: NARA is something we need to do.
Pipelines: a challenge for us (but can be done)
Grids: they're coming; much work to do
Linux: No longer "big news"; it's arrived. RealTime/Embedded is BIG.
AIPS++: Very balanced presentation (realistic)
Meeting Dinner: An Aquarium is a really cool place to hold this!