PS/SL MIDDLEWARE PROJECT - MINUTES CORE TEAM REVIEW May 19, 1999 Present: F. Di Maio, A. Risso, M. Vanden Eynden, V. Baggiolini Excused: : K. Kostro AGENDA ====== - AOB - Requirements Gathering Most of the meeting was dedicated to AOB. First, the state of the JavaAPI implementation at SL and the relation of JavaAPI implemenations with the MW project was discussed. Then, an update on ongoing MW pre-evaluation was made, and possible work on the definition of Test Cases was discussed. Finally, the next steps in requirements gathering were discussed. State of JavaAPI implementation in SL ------------------------------------- The state of the SL implementation of JavaAPI was discussed. The SL implementation is not based on JNI (as in PS), but on a Java SunRPC package. This is the only way JavaAPI can be implemented in SL in the next few months. The server-side integration of SunRPC has been carried out, and the client access using RPC works. However, the client-side mapping between the Java RPC package and the JavaAPI has yet to be done. In other words, the SL implementation of JavaAPI is behind schedule. It was agreed that this issue has to be discussed with Robin in SL, and that more human resources have to be dedicated to the JavaAPI implementation in SL. Because of this delay, the scenario to implement SUN-RPC based servers on SL (and PS?) DSCs can only be executed at the same time the Middleware project is also investigating new communication media to DSCs. Franck Di Maio asks for these activities to be, at least, re-synchronized because (1) the SUN RPC deployment may be incompatible with the middleware activities (DSC resources) and (2) this technique may also never be used if it comes too late and if it is replacable by a better solution. Activities have started between SL and PS to put the existing SL devices descriptions (currently contained in the SL_Equip Oracle Database) in the JavaAPI directory service. For the time being, the SL device descriptions will be entered into the database without modification. It is not planned for the moment to define common device descriptions for devices for both PS and SL. Relation between JavaAPI implementation and MW project ------------------------------------------------------ The JavaAPI project will end in June 1999, and JavaAPI support has to be related to the MW project. The problem is that MW is not expected to be fully operational before the start-up 2001, but the JavaAPI has to be supported before that date. The current developments should be coordinated with MW: a migration strategy has to be defined that leads from the first (non-MW) implementations of JavaAPI to the final MW-based implementation. No conclusions have been drawn. However, it seems that JavaAPI will be implemented in different ways in PS and in SL, and that a common communication infrastructure will only be achieved with the introduction of MW. In SL, a possible scenario would be to migrate from NC_RPC to SunRPC for start- up 2000, and then migrate from SunRPC to MW for the start-up 2001. During each migration step, the older version should be kept in place as a fall-back solution. MW Pre-Evaluations ------------------ Pre-evaluation work aims at exploring the implications of using MW on the LynxOS platforms. After encountering problems with the official production line, Nikolai Trofimov has used a different production line of Nicolas De-Metz Noblat to compile OmniORB 2 for LynxOS 2.5.1 on 68k boards. There are still some minor problems with C++ Exceptions, that are incompatible with compiler options. Nicolai will also try out the cross-compilation environment provided by Julian Blake. Vito is in contact with Lynx to receive a beta version of the Java Chai VM. It should be available in June 99. Preparation Test cases ---------------------- It was stated that some of the test cases could already be defined, based on the requirements gathered so far. The test case definitions shall be done independently of the middleware products. REQUIREMENTS ------------ The user requirements document (URD) shall be finalized soon. Marc has integrated the requirements from the SL/CO Alarms section into the document. All MW core team members have to send comments to Vito so that he can update the SL/CO/FE requirements and send them to Marc. After Marc has integrated them into the URD, the core team will discuss the document and then give it to the soft and client teams for validation. Planned time frame for all this is 2-3 weeks. Alessandro has requirements about bulk data transfer (for images) from Uli Reich. He will send them to Marc. It was agreed that these requirements shall be inserted into the URD; the feasibility of using MW to fulfill these requirements shall be assessed lateron. ACTIONS ======= - Marc (with Pierre): discuss human resources to be invested in JavaAPI with Robin. - All: send remarks about SL/CO/FE requirements to Vito - Vito: update SL/CO/FE requirements and send it to Marc - Marc: integrate SL/CO/FE requirements into URD - Alessandro: send bulk data transfer requirements to Marc. Comments to: Vito.Baggiolini@cern.ch