Computing Seminar

"High Performance Networking for Data Grids"

Brian Tierney , CERN/IT and LBNL

Abstract

Large distributed collaborations like the EU (European Union) Data Grid Project will require the ability to move vast quantities of data across wide area networks (WAN) as efficiently and effectively as possible. However, obtaining good TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) throughput across a wide area network usually requires some tuning. This is especially true in high-speed networks, where, even without congestion, an application might see only a small percentage of the total available bandwidth.

This talk will start with a brief introduction on how TCP works. Next, it will describe analysis tools and techniques required to obtain good throughput. Finally, the talk will cover some general methods for improving application performance in a high-speed WAN, or "Grid", environment.

About the speaker: Brian L. Tierney is a Staff Scientist and group leader of the Data Intensive Distributed Computing Group, which is part of the Distributed Systems Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His research interests include data intensive distributed computing, high-speed I/O systems, and distributed system performance monitoring and analysis. He is currently on leave at CERN for one year as a scientfic associate. Mr. Tierney has an M.S. in Computer Science from San Francisco State University, and a B.A. in physics from the University of Iowa.