Dear All,
Please find attached the latest GridPP Project Management Board
Meeting minutes. The latest minutes can be found each week in:
http://www.gridpp.ac.uk/php/pmb/minutes.php?latest
as well as being listed with other minutes at:
http://www.gridpp.ac.uk/php/pmb/minutes.php
Cheers, Tony
________________________________________________________________________
Prof. A T Doyle, FInstP FRSE GridPP Project Leader
Rm 478, Kelvin Building Telephone: +44-141-330 5899
Dept of Physics and Astronomy Telefax: +44-141-330 5881
University of Glasgow EMail: [log in to unmask]
G12 8QQ, UK Web: http://ppewww.physics.gla.ac.uk/~doyle/
________________________________________________________________________
GridPP PMB Minutes 294 - 3rd March 2008
=======================================
Present: Tony Doyle, Stephen Burke, David Britton, Steve Lloyd,
Robin Middleton, Peter Clarke, Glenn Patrick, Dave Colling, Steve Fisher
(Suzanne Scott, Minutes)
Apologies: Sarah Pearce, Roger Jones, David Kelsey, Tony Cass, John Gordon,
Jeremy Coles, Andrew Sansum, Neil Geddes
1. Grid/Computing Training
===========================
Steve Fisher reported that he had been organising training for UK
physicists and that the funding had been withdrawn, this amounted to
around 30k per year. He asked if GridPP could help. TD noted that this
kind of expenditure was not within the 'defined' scope of GridPP and was
within a climate of financial pressure. TD suggested that SF contact the
Education and Training section and get foundation funding. Funding would
therefore be provided through a combination of sources - core funding plus
course fees for RAs on projects. If necessary, GridPP could assist SF to
put forward a formal case. It was agreed that SF would contact Pat Kite
in the first instance and come back to the PMB if he needed assistance
with a formal document. TD noted that we needed well-trained physicists
to get us through the next phase and that the courses provided by SF had
been overwhelmingly praised by those attending the courses in past years.
2. AOCB
========
DB called for Agenda items for the F2F in Dublin - could these be sent to
him by Wednesday. It was noted that there was an STFC Town meeting
happening today. DB would contact STFC to request financial updates.
STANDING ITEMS
==============
SI-4 LCG Management Board Report
---------------------------------
There were no issues.
SI-5 Documentation Officer's Report
------------------------------------
SB reported as follows:
SB noted that this may be his last PMB - on behalf of the PMB, TD thanked
him for his contribution. The current situation with documentation was
summarised as follows:
The UIG has been producing new material; the latest snapshot is at
http://egee-docs.web.cern.ch/egee-docs/uig/development/build_98/build/xh
tml/UIGindex.html
The aim was to fill in as many of the topics as possible by mid-March, and
then review/revise them for a final release in April. The expectation was
that the UIG will then hand over to a new EGEE III user support group,
probably with a face to face meeting, although it still doesn't seem
entirely clear when that will happen.
The user guide update seems to have stalled somewhat; SB had reviewed the
existing guide but had not yet started updating it, and he thought that
the other authors were also suffering from a lack of time. SB would try to
move that forward over the next couple of weeks. He believed that this
would also move into the new support group in EGEE III.
The user area of the GridPP web site still needs updating, in particular
to reflect the switch from the RB to the WMS. SB hoped to do that in
discussion with SP given that the web site was being updated in general.
On actions: for 277.8 SB would add a more user-friendly digest of the
error message explanations from the GOC wiki to the user area as part of
the general update mentioned above.
On 290.12 SB had talked to GP but he did not think there was a definite
conclusion yet.
REVIEW OF ACTIONS
=================
277.2 DN to provide an update and re-evaluation of CMS/CASTOR
deliverables. TD advised that there was a CMS/CASTOR document on
deliverables which should be revised in light of the December '07 tests.
DC to take the token for this now and iterate with DN. DC reported that
the document would be sent out this week. The document was waiting to be
signed-off and then would be sent out. Done, action closed.
277.8 User Experience 'Team C': SB, SP, SL, with input from JC to deal
with the issue of user experience and design of an easily-found lookup
facility for grid error messages. SL reported that he had started the
ATLAS wiki page and would circulate the url. SB was leading this with
inputs from SP, SL and JC where needed. A new simple summary was required
of all areas available plus a lookup/links facility, for the OC to review.
This would include a list of most recent types of problems (possibly a
'top 12' for users - what the error means and the course of action to
follow). SB to progress this. Ongoing.
280.7 JC to mention the issues (when approached by a VO with regard to
joining) of the 'standard' 6-month introduction period, following which
the VO must set-up something specific to them, if appropriate. This was
discussed at DTeam. JC to email GridPP VO members if possible - ongoing.
This was a standing action - JC had discussed it with the Tier-2
Co-ordinators in relation to VO members. JC to send email. Ongoing.
290.4 AS and JG to iterate regarding what could replace the Tier-1 Board.
Ongoing.
290.7 AS to provide numbers in the Quarterly Report for the Tier-1 as per
the ones provided for Tier-2. Ongoing.
290.8 AS/SP to iterate regarding the financial summary in the Quarterly
Reporting (eg: Outturn figures). Ongoing.
290.9 Quarterly Report for Tier-2 staff to be compiled by the Production
Manager. Ongoing.
290.10 TD as Technical Director to provide a report showing effort
figures; milestones & metrics; and a table of posts showing Technical
Support. TD reported that discussions were ongoing.
290.11 DB to progress the situation at Manchester. DB reported that an
email had been sent and this issue was on the F2F Agenda. Done, item
closed.
290.12 GP/SB/DC to define the portal and documentation Support posts and
ensure they form a comprehensive basis for user support (both
documentation and Grid access assistance), overseen by the UB Chair. It
was reported that an email had been sent to the UB and feedback on posts
had been received. The consultation and defining had been done but
discussions were ongoing. Done, item closed.
290.13 DB to complete the document re Reporting and Reporting Routes
relating to staff, and circulate it, thereafter it would be posted on the
website as a record. DB would circulate url. Done, item closed.
290.18 Regarding the LCG box on the Project Map, SP to iterate with TC and
bring this issue back to the PMB. Ongoing.
290.20 RM to provide more detailed figures on travel expenditure -
broad-brush percentages would assist with decisions re travel in GridPP3.
Ongoing.
290.23 AS/JC to iterate on the Disaster Recovery template and remove
capturable items that were considered to be minor. Ongoing.
290.24 JC to progress his suggested template to use when a crisis occurs -
to be revisited subsequently at a PMB. Ongoing.
292.1 TC and JC to iterate regarding the CERN system that recorded service
interdependence and enabled them to recover from crisis events. Ongoing.
292.2 JG to review the interplay between Footprints and GGUS tickets on
the helpdesk. Ongoing.
292.4 JC to use the template from the disaster planning and apply it to
the RAL power failure. Ongoing.
293.1 Re HPC thematic issue invites: it was agreed that PC will raise the
issue with UKQCD; TD would contact Andrew Mcnab re GridSite; NG will
contact NGS side to see if any interest. PC noted that he had contacted
UKQCD who might be able to submit something on data handling. TD had
contacted AM and this was ongoing. DB noted that it would be good to have
GridPP's name in there. PC would follow-up the contact. TD noted that
another possible area was Optorsim. It was understood that it was
difficult to say 'yes' to this invite as it meant around a year-long
commitment. Done, item closed.
293.2 A PMB document to be written for the OC regarding NGI metrics, and
SP would provide some metrics for this. Ongoing.
293.3 TD to contact Trish Mullins and appraise her that an Agenda item
relating to NGI metrics was planned for the F2F. Done, item closed.
293.4 NO to re-send poster requests. Done, item closed.
293.5 TD to reply to Alex re speaking at the industry workshop. Done,
item closed.
ACTIONS AS AT 03.03.08
======================
277.8 User Experience 'Team C': SB, SP, SL, with input from JC to deal
with the issue of user experience and design of an easily-found lookup
facility for grid error messages. SL reported that he had started the
ATLAS wiki page and would circulate the url. SB was leading this with
inputs from SP, SL and JC where needed. A new simple summary was required
of all areas available plus a lookup/links facility, for the OC to review.
This would include a list of most recent types of problems (possibly a
'top 12' for users - what the error means and the course of action to
follow). SB to progress this.
280.7 JC to mention the issues (when approached by a VO with regard to
joining) of the 'standard' 6-month introduction period, following which
the VO must set-up something specific to them, if appropriate. This was
discussed at DTeam. JC to email GridPP VO members if possible - ongoing.
This was a standing action - JC had discussed it with the Tier-2
Co-ordinators in relation to VO members. JC to send email.
290.4 AS and JG to iterate regarding what could replace the Tier-1 Board.
290.7 AS to provide numbers in the Quarterly Report for the Tier-1 as per
the ones provided for Tier-2.
290.8 AS/SP to iterate regarding the financial summary in the Quarterly
Reporting (eg: Outturn figures).
290.9 Quarterly Report for Tier-2 staff to be compiled by the Production
Manager.
290.10 TD as Technical Director to provide a report showing effort
figures; milestones & metrics; and a table of posts showing Technical
Support.
290.18 Regarding the LCG box on the Project Map, SP to iterate with TC and
bring this issue back to the PMB.
290.20 RM to provide more detailed figures on travel expenditure -
broad-brush percentages would assist with decisions re travel in GridPP3.
290.23 AS/JC to iterate on the Disaster Recovery template and remove
capturable items that were considered to be minor.
290.24 JC to progress his suggested template to use when a crisis occurs -
to be revisited subsequently at a PMB.
292.1 TC and JC to iterate regarding the CERN system that recorded service
interdependence and enabled them to recover from crisis events.
292.2 JG to review the interplay between Footprints and GGUS tickets on
the helpdesk.
292.4 JC to use the template from the disaster planning and apply it to
the RAL power failure.
293.2 A PMB document to be written for the OC regarding NGI metrics, and
SP would provide some metrics for this.
294.1 Steve Fisher to speak to Pat Kite in the first instance re core
funding for training, and revert to the PMB if he required assistance with
a formal proposal document.
294.2 All - to provide DB with Agenda items for the F2F in Dublin.
294.3 DB to contact Janet Seed or Jordan of STFC regarding up-to-date
financial information.
INACTIVE CATEGORY
=================
271.1 PMB to examine the issue of fibre breakage and outages, CERN-RAL OPN
link, in one year's time, when actual data on breakages is available.
Due date would be September '08.
271.3 Re CERN-RAL OPN link breakage and backup generally, PC to oversee
the issue and collate info so that the PMB have something to revisit in
one year's time. Due date September '08. It was noted that PC would
circulate a revised document after discussion with ATLAS (RJ/PC/DN to
iterate).
282.8 RM to monitor how R-GMA and networking issues impact on GridPP as
matters progress. RM advised that this item should be moved to the
'inactive' category as it will develop over the coming months. RM
discussed the issue with Steve Fisher and advised that support of R-GMA is
required whilst APEL is dependent on it. RM reported that he has spoken
to SF and there is currently no change to the R-GMA situation - process
ongoing.
290.19 DB/SP to progress the details of the Project Map over the next few
months, cross-checking that all elements are incorporated, including
strategic priorities and staffing. To be completed before the next
Oversight Committee.
The next meeting would be the F2F at Dublin.
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