The LHC Computing Grid (LCG)
This is out of date please see http://lcg.web.cern.ch/LCG/ for more current information on the wLCG project.
Introduction
The LCG project, based at CERN, has the job of preparing the computing environment for the analysis of the LHC data. The computing requirements are much greater than could be satisfied at CERN alone, and so a major aim of LCG is to make the Grid work as an effective service for physicists working on LHC analysis.
At the working level there are two committees:
Software Computing Committee (SC2)
The SC2 identifies common solutions, sets requirements for the project, approves a work plan, and monitors progress. To prepare the requirements specification the SC2 uses expert subgroups called RTAGs - Requirements and Technical Assessment Groups. These are short-lived groups with a mandate to define requirements in a defined area. So far 12 RTAGs have been set up, covering the high priority areas of work, and including one which has defined the basic requirements for Grid middleware (building on the experience gained in DataGrid, GridPP and other projects).
Project Execution Board (PEB)
The PEB manages the implementation of the requirements set by the SC2, organising the work into sub-projects or work packages, coordinating between the Regional Centres, collaborating with Grid projects, and organising the pilot Global Grid Service. Four general areas are recognised: Applications, Fabric, Grid Technology and Grid Deployment.
How is the work organised?
The SC2 sets the requirements and monitors the project. The PEB organises the work through four general area managers and the four LHC experiment computing coordinators. Implementation decisions are taken as close to the work as possible, with the help of two formal decision-making committees - the Architects' Forum covering the applications area, and the Grid Deployment Board (GDB) covering the other three areas.
LCG Reports and Software
All of the reports are open and available from the PEB or SC2 web sites as they are produced. Software developed as part of the project will be open source. This software can be accessed via the LCG software development portal.
How will LHC Computing be performed on a Grid?
The LCG has produced a first statement of the LHC grid requirements. The assumption is that the grid middleware required to fulfil these requirements will come from sources outside the LCG project. The main role of LCG is to assess Grid middleware from the various Grid projects and, in future, from industry and deploy this middleware for transparent use by the experiments.
LCG Creation
The UK contributes funding for a number of people working at CERN on the LCG project and hardware at the Tier-0 centre. LCG represents 1/3 of the total GridPP funding.
LCG Oversight
The LCG Project Oversight Board (POB) monitors the project at a high level, the LHCC reviews the technical goals and progress of the work, and a Computing Resource Review Board, with delegates from all of the agencies contributing to the project, oversees the funding.
People
The LCG Project Leader is Les Robertson
The SC2 Chairman is Matthias Kasemann
LCG is represented on the GridPP PMB by Tony Cass, IT/FIO Group Leader at CERN
GridPP is represented on SC2 by Tony Doyle, GridPP Project Leader.
GridPP is represented on the GDB by John Gordon, GridPP Deputy Project Leader.
Nick Brook represents LHCb on the PEB.
Neil Geddes, CCLRC Head of e-Science, represents the UK on the POB.
How can I access/provide resources for LCG?
A Quick Start Guide for LCG2 can be found here.
Last modified Fri 17 July 2009 . View page history
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