XCAT

XCAT is Indiana University's implementation of the Common Component Architecture CCA Framework. It is based on CoG tachnology and is designed to support Grid computations. It provides a mechanism for execution of (workflows of) CCA components through Jython scripting language.

The lastest version (3.0.1) of XCAT Framework attempts to integrate the CCA with OGSI infrastructure. Every ProvidesPort of a CCA component provided through XCAT's naming service is able to export its functionality also as a single PortType in terms of OGSI-compliant Grid Service.

XCAT research includes also a Grid application factory idea which is a service capable of instantiating and executing ad hoc a complete application workflow using provided CCA components. Some of components' ports are then published externally as a set of Grid services what allows for e.g. external application interaction or steering. The application structure is described with simple, spatial-type description language.

Some projects that use the XCAT system are IU Xports, NCSA's Weather Research and Forecasting, (WRF) and Chemical Engineering, GRAPPA, Collision Risk Assessment (CRASS), and Linear Systems Analysis (LSA).

Resources

• Extreme! Computing @ Indiana University
• XCAT webpage
• Application factory page