Cyberinfrastructure to support GRID
Computing and Global
Collaboration for Malaysian Researchers:
Current Status and Future Plans
Suhaimi Napis
1. CIO and Director, InfoComm Development Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia
2. Director, E-Research Area, Malaysian Research and Education Network (MYREN)
ISGC2007 - 26-29 Mar; Academia Sinica, Taipei
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OUTLINE
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MYREN
MYREN II (Phase 2)
National Grid Computing Initiative
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Grid Status Report
End
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What is MYREN?
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MYREN was launched by the KTAK, MOSTI, MOHE on 28th March
2005
Connects 12 of the largest public universities in Malaysia, with
bandwidths ranging from 2Mbps to 8Mbps
Two private organizations connected to MYREN on their own cost as
they see benefit in being part of the community
MYREN’s hub in Cyberjaya and is a gateway to other international
NRENs in other countries via the Trans-Eurasia Information Network
(TEIN2) in April 2006.
Countries currently connected to MYREN include:
 Asia Pacific - Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore,
Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
 Europe – GEANT2 (33 countries in Europe incl. UK, Germany, Italy,
Spain, etc.)
 North America – Internet2
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MYREN Network Topology (as of Aug 2006)
45M
MYREN NOC
TEIN2
Campus
Network
8Mbps
TM R&D
45Mbps
2Mbps
Campus USM
Network
Campus
Network
8Mbps
UTP
1Mbps
**connects members and
collaborators at national
level
Campus
Network
UUM
UNIMAS
MYREN WAN**
2Mbps
Campus
Network
Campus
Network
2Mbps
4Q06
NAV6
Centre
MONASH
Mimos Grid
Computing
Centre
1Gbps
4M
Internet
MDeC Virtual
Reality
Cluster
4Mbps
8Mbps
UMS
8Mbps
8Mbps
8Mbps 2Mbps 2Mbps
Campus
Network UPM
UITM
Campus
Network
MMU
Campus
Network
UTM
2Mbps
UM
CampusUKM
Network
Campus
Network
UNITENCampus
Network
Campus
Network
Campus
Network
TEIN2 International Connection (since Apr 2006)
North
America
33 countries
in Europe
Improved Network
Performance
millisecon
ds
Intern
et
TEIN2
Australia
416
92
Japan
113
92
China
546
89
S’pore
129
20
Vietnam
194
68
US
396
260
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National Research Networks: A Comparison
MYREN
Internet2
CANARIE
AARNet
SingaREN
Country
Malaysia
United States
Canada
Australia
Singapore
Network
Name
MYREN
Abilene
CA*Net4
AARNet3
SingaREN
Bandwidth
Backbone: 45M
User: 2-8M
Backbone: 10G
User: 100M-1G
Backbone:
unlimited
User: 2.5G
Backbone: 5G
User: 10-100M
Backbone: n/a
User: 2M-100M
Traffic
R&D only
Production &
R&D
Production &
R&D
Production &
R&D
Production &
R&D
Network
model
Telcomanaged
backbone &
access network
Self-built
backbone
network partnership with
telco
Access
network
provided by
regional fiber
operator
Self-built
backbone
network partnership with
telco
Access
network
provided by
regional fiber
operator
Self-built
backbone
network partnership with
telco
Access
network
provided by
regional fiber
operator
Partially telcomanaged
backbone
network
Access
network can be
procured with
telco
Governance
model
Govt. Project
(owner is KTAK
and manager is
MDeC)
Consortium
Consortium
Consortium
Society
Achievements – Examples of Projects
1. E-Lecture Series: UM-Kyoto-Tsinghua
• A weekly lecture organized for post graduate students in environmental management. Lecture is chaired in rotation by the
three universities. MYREN’s better quality enables hi-definition image and audio conferencing and allows for real-time
interaction between lecturer and students
2. Telesurgery: UM – MDeC Virtual Reality Center and Korea-Manila-Malaysia
• MYREN allows remote visualization of 3D models built from medical scanned images. The high bandwidth of MYREN allows
for UM’s researchers to harness the computational power of the MDeC VRC
3. E-Culture: UPM-UM-MDeC
• Digitalization of dance movements and subsequent sharing of 3D models between researchers can be accomplished through
the high bandwidth of MYREN
4. E-Culture: UPM-ViNAREN and UPM-ITB
• UPM successfully transmitted a live cultural performance from Malaysia to Vietnam. MYREN allows for high-quality video
and audio to be transmitted to collaborators internationally.
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MYREN Achievements:
International Research Collaboration
1. TEIN2
 MYREN plays active role in TEIN2 – Global Launch & TEIN2 Video
 Malaysian researchers seen to be increasingly prominent e.g. EUSEA Conference
 Active participation with regional scientists in network research, IPv6, e-Culture. Soon on
Telemedicine, grid
 Participating in discussion on TEIN2’s future
2. Internet 2 (US)
 Signed MOU in July 2006
 Exploring collaboration activities
 Exploring dedicated connection in 2007
3. ASTRENA
 Main Committee
 ASTREAN will form the ASEAN-wide NREN and would be the platform for research
collaboration within ASEAN researchers
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MYREN Issues - Low Utilization!
Bandwidth
(Mbps)
Average Usage
Mar 2005 – May 2006 (%)
Roadshow?
U. Utara Malaysia
2M
8.8
Y
U. Sains Malaysia
8M
1.0
Y
U. Tek. Petronas
4M
6.6
N
U. Malaya
8M
19.2
Y
U. ITM
2M
2.84
N
U. Putra Malaysia
8M
1.13
Y
U. Multimedia Malaysia
2M
64.9
Y
U. Tenaga
2M
0.1
Y
U. Kebangsaan
Malaysia
8M
4.1
Y
U. Teknologi Malaysia
8M
1.8
Y
U. Malaysia Sarawak
8M
0.05
Y
U. Malaysia Sabah
1M
0.42
Y
University
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MYREN Issues -Low Utilization
Issues of low utilization include:
1. Research funding for RMK-8 ceased during 2004-2005, thus researchers could not engage in new
projects utilizing MYREN
2. Some Public IHL’s IT Centres/Division were reluctant to manage a 2nd network and thus gave low
priority to MYREN
3. Most Public IHL’s are reluctant to peer with MYREN. Peering can allow some production traffic
(.edu, .net, .com) hosted within NREN clouds to be shifted via MYREN pipe. E.g. MMU is shifting some
of the production traffic to MYREN.
4. Many key researchers in IHL’s did not attend Roadshow and thus have poor awareness of MYREN.
5. IHL’s in Malaysia have poor record of collaborating e.g. silo research. Also many are focused on
teaching instead of researching
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MYREN2: Key Activities & Tasks
Membership &
Promotions
Network
Infrastructure &
Connectivity
Network
Operations
MYREN2
Promotion of
Research
Activities
Human Capital
Programmes
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Proposed MYREN2: Network Connectivity
Penang
KL
50km radius
to user
50km
radius to
user
MYREN asset
MYREN asset
PJ
Gigabit
Ethernet
Cloud
50km
radius to
user
MYREN asset
50km
radius to
user
MYREN asset
Kuantan
Cyberjaya
50km radius
to user
MYREN asset
Johor Bharu
MYREN asset
50km
radius to
user
Note: Node selection was made based on the location of existing & prospective connectors.
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The National Grid Computing
Initiative (NGCI)
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NGCI: National Mission
Creation of virtual research groups and synergy among centres
of excellence in universities & institutes in Malaysia
Creation of a platform for sharing of best practices amongst local
universities & research institutes and abroad
Significant cost reduction through sharing expensive tools and
resources
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NGCI: Goal
TEIN II
45Mbps
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Objectives
To establish and expand joint research in Grid Computing regionally
and globally
To enable resource sharing and coordinated research work over the
globally
To provide high performance computing capability for research in
various domain specific applications
To introduce new scientific applications and technology components
into local research and development
To enable training of highly secure local talent in Grid Computing
To establish research collaboration with international organizations in
Grid Computing (PRAGMA, SEAGF, GGF)
To provide new knowledge intensive industries in Malaysia
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Domain Areas in NGCI
•Scientific & Engineering Apps
•Humanities/Social Science/ Fine Arts Apps
•E-Learning Apps
•Life Sciences (Bio-Medical)
•All the national project in Bio-Informatics, Semiconductor, Language Engineering and Security
Grid Applications
POLICY &
GOVERNANCE
Tools and Enablers
Service Management Resource Allocation
Resource Monitoring
Globus Toolkits (GT4)
Grid Middleware and Tool Enablers
STORAGE
COMPUTERS
Infostructure and Security
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NGCI Overview
Role of National Grid
Operating Centre (NGOC)
Government
Grid operating centre
Regional Centres
of Excellence
NG
Operating
Centre
Regional Centres
of Excellence
Satellite Centres
Individual Users
Monitoring
Universities/
Research Institutes
SMEs/Companies/
Enterprises
Satellite Centres
Provides major computing
resources and necessary
human resources
Role of Regional Centres
of Excellence
Distributed centres specialize
in certain domain areas
Provide support and training to
the Satellite Centres within
specific regions with certain
specializations
Role of Satellite Centres
Participating members with
computing resources to share
Manages and maintains its own
hardware and software
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National Grid Computing Infostructure
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Governance Structure for NGCI
Ministry of Science
and Technology,
Innovation (MOSTI)
National Grid
Coordinating
Committee (NGCC)
Grid Technical
Committee (GTC)
Secretariat
(MOSTI/MIMOS)
Secretariat support
to NGCC and GTC
Grid Operations
(MIMOS)
Strategy Planning and Policy
Development
Contribute and allocate computing
resources
Drive the National Technology
Roadmap
Monitoring and Membership
National Technology Roadmap
Implementation and Review
Standardization and Benchmarking
Implementation of plans
Project evaluation and monitoring
Monitoring of Grid
Day-to-day technical operations
Implementation of GTC decisions
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NGCI: Current Status
(Today: Live)
http://nucleus.mygridusbio.net.my/ganglia/
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Parting Messages
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Help!! Need to hook up to more Grid facilities
worldwide
HR Training!! Need to send students and
researchers to Grid facilities
Virtual seminars and workshops!! Need willing
colleagues to be speakers and resource persons
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TQ
Special thanks to ASGC-TWGrid…
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