Transcript Topaz : A GridFTP extension to Firefox M. Taufer, R

Topaz : A GridFTP extension to Firefox
M. Taufer,
R. Zamudio,
D. Catarino,
University of Texas at El Paso
K. Bhatia,
B. Stearn
San Diego Supercomputer Center
Topaz Framework
Abstract
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As grid infrastructures mature, an increasing challenge is to provide
end-user scientists with intuitive interfaces to access computational
services, data management capabilities, and visualization tools.
GridFTP
GridFTP is a high-performance, secure, reliable data transfer protocol
optimized for high-bandwidth wide-area networks. It features:
GSI security: De-facto standard security system used in Grid
applications.
Third-party transfers: Mediation transfer between two servers.
Partial file access: Upload or download only a specified region of a file.
Reliability/restart: Periodically save progress and restart from last
position if transfer fails.
Large file support: All file sizes, lengths, and offsets are 64 bits.
Parallel transfers: Multiple TCP streams are used between two hosts.
Topaz provides scientists with a user friendly interface for data
management by extending Firefox to allows access to GridFTP
servers directly from desktop machines. With the Topaz extension,
the Firefox browser directly supports the GridFTP protocol allowing
the user to specify a gsiftp url (“gsiftp://server/file”) and provides file
upload and download capabilities. Topaz works with the GAMA
security infrastructure to support GSI-based user authentication.
Firefox
Security Integration
By using GAMA web services, Topaz
obtains the required user and host
certificates necessary for accessing
GridFTP servers. Topaz provides the
capability for managing a list of
currently and previously used GAMA
servers.
Topaz takes advantage of Firefox’s expandability
to provided users with a familiar interface for
data management on the grid. The Topaz
software components connect the easy to use
browser to the powerful GridFTP protocol
provided by the Globus toolkit libraries. No
Globus library needs to be installed a priori.
After the GAMA server specified by the
user is contacted, a login window
prompts the user for their information in
order to authenticate and obtain the
certificates that are necessary for
accessing the GridFTP servers.
References
Contributors &
Sponsors
1. K. Bhatia, M. Taufer, B. Stearn, R. Zamudio, D. Catarino: Integrate
GridFTP into Firefox - Build grid protocols into Mozilla-based tools. IBM
developWork, 10 Oct 2006
2. K. Bhatia, B. Stearn, M. Taufer, R. Zamudio, and D. Catarino:
Extending Grid Protocols onto the Desktop using the Mozilla
Framework. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Grid
Computing Environments (GCE 2006), in conjunction with SC 2006,
November 2006, Tampa, Florida
3. K. Bhatia, K. Mueller, S. Chandra: GAMA: Grid Account Management
Architecture. IEEE International Conference on EScience and Grid
Computing, Dec 2005
Topaz Features
GSI security
View directory contents
Upload and download files
Drag and drop installation
Built-in authentication
Download
http://gcl.utep.edu/projects/topaz
Coming Soon
Third party transfers
Authentication via my proxy
Firefox is the second most popular browser, with over 12% of the
market, and runs on all modern platforms. Firefox extensions can be
built by wrapping new functionalities, e.g., client protocol
implementations, into the Mozilla component framework.
Listing, Downloading, and Uploading
Listing and download: Topaz determines
whether the gsiftp URL given by the user
represents a file or directory and issues the
corresponding request to establish a data
connection to download the content. Globus
fetches raw data from the GridFTP server
and forwards it to Topaz that formats the
data appropriately for the request (directory
listing or file content) and forwards the
formatted data to Firefox.
Upload: Topaz allows users to upload files to
the GridFTP servers by using an intuitive file
picking interface system: the user selects the
file to upload through the Firefox file dialog.
File object and current gsiftp URL from the
location bar are passed to Topaz. Topaz
establishes
a
control
connection,
authenticates the user, and opens a data
connection for upload. Topaz also opens the
file and sends the data over the data
connection to the GridFTP server.