The Integration of AJAX, interactive X Windows applications and application input generation into the UCLA grid portal

Abstract

The University of California (UC) has adopted the UCLA Grid Portal (UGP), a Globus Incubator project, to create grids of computational clusters [1] at its campuses. Campus grids can also be accessed system wide via the UC Grid Portal. Developed as a set of portlets for the GridSphere Portal Framework, parts of UGP, such as those for data management and job submission, have been rewritten using AJAX technologies. In this paper we will discuss the latest additions to UGP. These include: the various UGP services that were programmed using AJAX technologies, the ability to run interactive applications such as Matlab™ and Mathematica™ through the portal web interface, and appForm, our interface that allows portal administrators to easily create application input forms for users. appForm makes extensive use of Web 2.0 technologies.