Award Abstract # 2018766
CC* Compute: GP-ARGO: The Great Plains Augmented Regional Gateway to the Open Science Grid

NSF Org: OAC
Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC)
Recipient: KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: May 21, 2020
Latest Amendment Date: May 21, 2020
Award Number: 2018766
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Kevin Thompson
kthompso@nsf.gov �(703)292-4220
OAC �Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC)
CSE �Direct For Computer & Info Scie & Enginr
Start Date: July 1, 2020
End Date: June 30, 2023�(Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $378,599.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $378,599.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2020 = $378,599.00
History of Investigator:
  • Daniel Andresen (Principal Investigator)
     dan@k-state.edu
  • Timothy Middelkoop (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Pratul Agarwal (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Stephen Wheat (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Ryan Johnson (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Kansas State University
 1601 VATTIER STREET
 MANHATTAN
 KS �US �66506-2504
(785)532-6804
Sponsor Congressional District: 01
Primary Place of Performance: Kansas State University
 KS �US �66506-1100
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:		 01
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): CFMMM5JM7HJ9
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Campus Cyberinfrastructure
Primary Program Source: 01002021DB�NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 9150
Program Element Code(s): 808000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.070

ABSTRACT

This project creates a regional distributed Open Science Grid (OSG) Gateway led by the Great Plains Network (GPN) to support computational and data-intensive research across the region through the development of specialized CI resources, workforce training, and cross-support methodologies and agreements. The GPN Augmented Regional Gateway to OSG?s (GP-ARGO) primary goal accelerates the adoption and experience of advanced high-throughput computing and data resources by developing a model for enhanced distributed computational systems, including design, implementation, and training. This project multiplies the number of OSG sites in the GPN region by 8, adding at least 2,048 cores dedicated to OSG use, and giving OSG potential access to over 42,000 additional existing cores at participating institutions. This project accomplishes the following key objectives: 1) Improves campus awareness and adoption of advanced HTC-oriented computing and data resources for STEM research and education activities. 2) Increasing the number and capabilities of campus research computing and data professionals. 3) Increasing the capabilities of campus high-throughput computing cyberinfrastructure resources such as advanced computing systems, data caches, and networks. 4) Enabling deployment, and operation of research and education cyberinfrastructure to make science more efficient, trusted, and reproducible.

This project advances both the regional infrastructure and regional research efforts by increasing the number of local CI resources across the region. GP-ARGO provides a distinctive model for distributed support teams, in particular institutions that lack a critical mass of personnel to support the key areas: OSG awareness, HTC resources, researcher support, workforce development.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

The GP-ARGO initiative, steered by the Great Plains Network (GPN), embarked on a transformative journey to enhance computational and data-centric research in the region. By capitalizing on high-throughput computing and data resources, the project developed a pioneering model for strengthening distributed computational systems across design, implementation, and training fronts. In collaboration with the NSF-funded CC* Team: Great Plains Regional CyberTeam (OAC-1925681), we fostered conversations between researchers and administration to provide better research support and enhanced relationships for future projects.

Key Achievements:

  1. Regional Expansion: Achieved multi-fold increase in Open Science Grid (OSG) sites in the GPN region. By the project's culmination, there were 2048 cores directly available to the OSG, and potential access to over 42,000 cores at participating institutions.

  2. Collaboration: Fostered a collaborative environment with regular meetings, involving 15 institutions and numerous schools in the region.

  3. Technology Deployment: With careful deliberation on hardware configurations, the project procured and successfully deployed 18 2U server nodes with GPUs across participating institutions. A github repository containing source code and documentation for other efforts to use has been created as well.

  4. Dashboard Development: Two dashboards were developed:

    • GP-ARGO dashboard: Highlights contributions and participation.
    • Performance dashboard: Monitors node loads and OSG contributions.

  5. Substantial Contributions to the OSG: GP-ARGO nodes delivered over 18M core hours to 86 OSG projects spread across 60 different institutions.

Public Engagement & Dissemination:

The GP-ARGO's progress and achievements were spotlighted in mutliple events, including the Internet2 TechEx, Quilt & GPN Annual Meetings, statewide CI calls in Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Missouri, and publications in the GPN newsletters.

Outcomes:
The GP-ARGO project not only bolstered the infrastructural prowess of the GPN region but also provided a robust blueprint for other regions to emulate. The introduction of the OSG systems to the region, particularly institutions without prior OSG involvement, massive contribution to research compututational needs, and strengthened bonds between researchers and administration, are a testament to the project's achievements.


Last Modified: 10/18/2023
Modified by: Daniel Andresen

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