XtreemOS, a Linux-based Operating System to support Virtual Organizations for next generation Grids

*Xtr**eemOS, a Linux-based Operating System to support Virtual 
Organizations for next generation Grids*

XtreemOS is a 4-year European research project, which aims to develop a 
grid operating system based on Linux to simplify the usage, management 
and programming of grids.

Computing grids allow organizations to significantly increase their 
computational power by connecting their computers together. However 
using, administrating and programming computing grids is highly complex 
as the shared resources are distributed, heterogeneous and independently 
administered and connected through networks with fluctuating 
performances. Tools developed for grid use, like the Globus Toolkit, are 
demanding and complex — especially because they are based on operating 
systems are not designed to manage distributed and versatile resources.

Partly funded by the sixth framework programme (FP6) of the European 
Commission, the XtreemOS project aims at building a reference 
open-source Grid operating system (OS). The 19 academic and industrial 
partners chose to base their research on Linux, as it is a popular, open 
and efficient operating system. An important goal is to make further 
improvements to simplify the management of Virtual Organizations (VOs), 
bringing together partnersÂ’ resources (to design an aircraft for example).

XtreemOS aims to define the necessary interfaces and services to make 
grids operational and to add functionalities to the Linux OS to simplify 
grid use (e.g. OS-level mechanisms for VO support, data and execution 
management services).

In FP6, European research projects are extended to countries outside the 
European Union. The Chinese partner ICT-CAS — a pioneer in VO management 
in existing operating systems — collaborates in the consortium, as well 
as Red Flag Software — Linux’s leading distributor in Asia — who will 
play a major role in promoting and pushing XtreemOS into the fast 
growing Asian markets.

Several industrial partners contribute to testing the OS by providing 
real-world applications. The experiments will initially be carried out 
on the French national grid experimental platform GridÂ’5000 
(https://www.grid5000.fr/). We plan to extend the initial test bed to 
the grid in the Netherlands (DAS-3 - http://www.cs.vu.nl/pub/das3/) and 
to the Chinese grid (CNGrid - http://www.cngrid.org/).

An initial version of the XtreemOS operating system for PCs is planned 
to be distributed under open source licence after the first two years of 
the project (Spring 2008). The XtreemOS system will eventually be 
available for a wide range of hardware platforms: PCs, clusters and 
mobile devices (mobile phones, PDAs, etc.). The version of the XtreemOS 
system for clusters will be based on Kerrighed 
(http://www.kerrighed.org), a Single System Image OS for clusters. The 
last two years of the project will be dedicated to the development of 
advanced features, with a focus on robustness and security of the system 
and the creation of a usersÂ’ community.

/XtreemOS project – Key Figures:
Duration: 48 months
Starting date: June 1st 2006
Contract number: IST-033576
Funding: 30M€ (14,2M€ from the EC)
Scientific Coordinator: INRIA (France)
Administrative and Financial Coordinator: Caisse des Dépôts et 
Consignations (France)
/

/For further information contact: xtreemos-info@listes.irisa.fr
To learn more about XtreemOS visit our website http://www.xtreemos.eu
The 1st newsletter is now available 
here:http://www.xtreemos.eu/publications/newsletter/