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WebSubmit:
A Web-based Interface to High-Performance Computing
Resources
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Overview
WebSubmit is a Web-based utility providing access to applications
on a collection of heterogeneous computing resources. Its goal is
to make it easy to use computing resources via the Web without requiring
knowledge of the specifics of unfamiliar operating systems and dynamic
application environments. Users can effectively log into distinct
computing environments and perform tasks without needing a detailed knowledge
of their operating environment.
A collection of machines, referred to as the WebSubmit cluster
and determined by the site administrators, can be accessed through WebSubmit.
Strong authentication using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol lets
registered users connect to the system, and when validated by a WebSubmit
authority, gives them access to a group of application modules. Each
application module is presented as an HTML form; this form is filled out
and submitted to the server, which then processes the request and executes
the desired tasks on the specified remote system using another secure protocol.
The system is flexible and extensible, and its modularity promotes ease
of use, maintainability, and interface development.
Software Features
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Security
WebSubmit uses strong authentication techniques based on digitally-signed
certificates to perform authentication. Users can rest assured that
use of the system is much more secure than using a standard telnet or rlogin
session to a remote system, or even direct dialing. It is more secure
than using ftp or HTTP based file transfer. Except for certain initial
information presented to unenrolled users, all connections are secured
with HTTPS (SSL) and Secure Shell/Copy (SSH/SCP).
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Configurability
Not only can users select which application modules are visible,
but they can select between basic and advanced modes for many of the applications.
In this way, WebSubmit spans a broad specturm of user needs.
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Session Management
WebSubmit provides a way to save your application nterface configurations,
so that you can retrieve configurations entered for WebSubmit applications
at a later date. Users can create their own personal libraries of
configurations for most applications, thus saving time and making life
easier in general!
Current WebSubmit Service Parameters
Seven systems are currently connected with WebSubmit at NIST:
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an IBM SP2 parallel supercomputer (danube.nist.gov)
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an IBM cluster (sci-apps.nist.gov)
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an 8-processor SGI Origin 2000 (arno.nist.gov)
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three 32-processor SGI Origin 2000 systems (amur.nist.gov,
tay.nist.gov, neva.nist.gov)
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a 16-node PC cluster running Linux (rapid.nist.gov)
Collectively these systems use the Loadleveler, Network Queuing System,
and Load Sharing Facility as batch queuing systems.
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System-Wide Applications (used on any
machine)
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General Command Interface
Execute UNIX commands on remote hosts and view the output.
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Text File Editor
A simple text file editor to retrieve, edit, and save files on remote
systems.
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File Transfer Interface
A basic interface to allow transfer of text files between remote systems
and your browser machine.
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LoadLeveler Applications
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General Load Leveler Job Submission
Submit jobs to batch queues controlled by LoadLeveler.
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MPI Parallel Job Submission
Submit parallel jobs that use the Message Passing Interface (MPI) for
communication to batch queues controlled by the Network Queuing System.
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Gaussian 94 Job Submission
Submit parallel Gaussian94 quantum chemistry package jobs to
batch queues controlled by LoadLeveler.
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Queuing System Control
View jobs currently executing in batch queues controlled by LoadLeveler
and control your own jobs.
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NQS Applications
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General NQS Job Submission
Submit jobs to batch queues controlled by the Network Queuing
System (NQS).
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Gaussian 94 Job Submission
Submit parallel Gaussian94 quantum chemistry package jobs to
batch queues controlled by the Network Queuing System.
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Queuing System Control
View jobs currently executing in batch queues controlled by the Network
Queuing System and control your own jobs.
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LSF Applications
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General LSF Job Submission
Submit jobs to batch queues controlled by the Load Sharing Facility
(LSF).
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MPI Parallel Job Submission
Submit parallel jobs that use the LAM Message Passing Interface (MPI)
for communication to batch queues controlled by the Load Sharing Facility
(LSF).
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Queuing System Control
View jobs currently executing in batch queues controlled by the Load
Sharing Facility (LSF) and control your own jobs.
Screen Shots: WebSubmit
Application Modules
The following links point to screen shots of several
WebSubmit interfaces (not necessarily current). In all cases, the
screen shot only shows a portion of the interface.
Accessing WebSubmit (Last
Updated: 05.13.99)
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Who can use WebSubmit?
The NIST installation of WebSubmit is available for use by users at
NIST only. You must have a digital certificatge issued by the NIST Certificate
Authority to access it. Users outside the NIST domain cannot access
the internal system. The software has been released into the public
domain, however, and interested parties can download the software and install
it for use at their own sites.
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How can I connect with and use the WebSubmit system?
In order to use WebSubmit, valid users (at present, employees of NIST)
must first obtain a personal digital certificate for use with WebSubmit.
This certificate can be obtained from a NIST
Certificate Authority. Questions about the operation of this
authority should be directed to webmaster@nist.gov.
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How do I get to the secure version of WebSubmit
if I already have a NIST digital certificate?
If you already have a certificate for accessing WebSubmit, then you
can proceed directly to the WebSubmit
Home Page.
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How can I get a copy of the software?
WebSubmit is in the public domain and available now for distribution,
although development continues as time permits, and new versions will be
released when significant improvements have been made. WebSubmit
is available for download in two forms:
Additional WebSubmit Information
Papers
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WebSubmit:
Web-based Applications with Tcl, Ryan McCormack, John Koontz,
and Judith Devaney, NIST Internal Report
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Seamless Computing with WebSubmit,
Ryan McCormack, John Koontz, and Judith Devaney, Concurrency: Practice
and Experience (in press)
Presentations
Press Reports
Implementation Details and Documentation
WebSubmit is a Common Gateway Interface
(CGI) application written in Ousterhout's Tool
Command Language (Tcl). All WebSubmit forms are generated
dynamically using the cgi.tcl
library for Tcl written by Don Libes of NIST. Processing of form
data and interaction with remote computer systems is carried out using
a collection of Tcl packages written by the WebSubmit development team.
Interface documentation
and an Administrator's
Reference Guide provide complete details about the operation and implementation
of WebSubmit. The WebSubmit server is a Netscape
Enterprise Server (or equivalent), and provides the necessary tools
needed to perform SSL authentication and certificate manipulation.
Acknowledgements
WebSubmit is under development by:
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John Koontz,
Mathematician,
Scientific Application Support Project
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Judith Devaney,
Project
Leader, Scientific Applications Support Project
Past Members of the Development Team:
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Ryan McCormack
(Security system, Configuration Manager, general coding, distribution)
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Robert Lipman
(Original developer)
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Katherine
Pagoaga (General coding, distribution)
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Minwen Lo, High Performance Systems Usage Group (Computer
security, Web server, CGIwrap)
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Gale Richter,
High Performance Systems Usage Group (Computer security, CGIwrap)
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Howard Hung,
Scientific Applications Support Project (Gaussian 94)
Additional Acknowledgements:
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Don
Libes, NIST Manufacturing Systems Integration Division, cgi.tcl
library and useful discussions regarding Tcl implementations
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James Dray,
NIST Security Division, useful discussions regarding security features
of WebSubmit