CCR Access Grid Node

Release: November 14, 2002

Buffalo, NY. The Center for Computational Research has recently installed a large-scale Access Grid node (AGN). This system is based on the concept of a "designed collaborative space" that enables very large-scale remote collaborations using numerous audio and video signals. The overall design is intended to facilitate comfortable collaborative sessions that can last for hours or days. The CCR system has participated in sessions comprised of more than 30 simultaneous sites. The large numbers of video and audio feeds from the many sites utilizes the UB Internet2/Abilene connection.

The AGN is based on an integrated solution of software, hardware and room layout as a single design point. The necessary computing is performed on 3 Dell workstations. These machines manage 4 Sony cameras, 8 microphones, and the dissemination and collection of signals to and from the Internet. The CCR Access Grid node (AGN) is currently the only University-based system installed in New York State. A total of nearly 150 AGN sites exist worldwide.

The CCR AGN allows access to many seminars and workshops hosted at remote sites and available only over the Access Grid. Examples include parallel computing, high-performance computing, computational chemistry and a recent workshop on the TeraGrid hosted by the NSF. For more information about the CCR AGN and a list of upcoming events please see http://www.ccr.buffalo.edu/content/ag.htm.