Evaluating the core GRIA services

In order that you can evaluate GRIA and the ideas behind it quickly, IT Innovation has set up demonstration systems with the basic application services and service provider management packages installed. The core services tutorial explains how to install the GRIA client software and use it to access these services.

Workflows

If you would like to compose GRIA jobs and data transfer operations into workflows, the GRIA Workflow Plugins can be used with the Taverna workbench for this purpose. Such workflows can be executed from the Taverna workbench environment directly and can also be deployed to the GRIA Job service as standard applications, using the GRIA Workflow Application software.

Databases

The GRIA OGSA-DAI service package allows clients using the OGSA-DAI libraries access to databases through a GRIA service. The OGSA-DAI service can be deployed on its own to provide unmanaged access to databases, or it can be used with the GRIA service provider management package to take advantage of its billing and service level agreement functionality.

To evaluate GRIA follow the Getting Started section that is now integrated into the User Guide.

If you would like to compose GRIA jobs and data transfer operations into workflows, the GRIA Workflow Plugins can be used with the Taverna workbench for this purpose. Such workflows can be executed from the Taverna workbench environment directly and can also be deployed to the GRIA Job service as standard applications, using the GRIA Workflow Application software.

The GRIA OGSA-DAI service package allows clients using the OGSA-DAI libraries access to databases through a GRIA service. The OGSA-DAI service can be deployed on its own to provide unmanaged access to databases, or it can be used with the GRIA service provider management package to take advantage of its billing and service level agreement functionality.

To get started with GRIA, first download the client. IT Innovation has provided a demonstration GRIA service provider so that users can evaluate GRIA and the ideas behind it quickly. You can use this client to try these demo GRIA systems at IT Innovation, and to access these you will need a keystore for your client. This is generated for you on demand, and once you have this, you can then try out the GRIA system using the IT Innovation Centre's demo Service Provider, by following the Client Tutorial.

Your personal GRIA keystore is generated using the information contained in your profile. Keep it secure as it contains personal information. Its sole purpose is for your evaluation of the GRIA systems at IT Innovation and any other use is prohibited. The keystore is generated when you request it, and is deleted once you have downloaded it. See the GRIA Demo CA Certificate Policy for more details.

To quickly evaluate GRIA perform the following steps.

1. Download the GRIA Client and unpack it to a suitable location
2. Read the GRIA Demo CA Certificate Policy, and if you agree with the terms -
3. Generate & Download Gria Keystore (you will need to be a registered user to do this).
4. Unpack gria-keystore.zip in the conf directory of the GRIA Client to automatically configure the GRIA Client
5. Follow the installation instructions supplied in the client documentation (N.B. no configuration dialog box will appear, since the client was already configured for you in the previous step.)
6. Follow the command-line tutorial instructions supplied in the client documentation to use IT Innovation Centre's demo Service Provider.

Installing a GRIA Service Provider

The GRIA Services software provides compute resources to clients.

Please see the system requirements for information on supported operating systems and software prerequisites.

The GRIA software itself is packaged within a single WAR (or "web archive") file. Once this has been deployed under Tomcat, the documentation in the WAR guides the user through the installation process. Please download the services package and refer to the services documentation in order to start the installation process. If you have GRIA Services 4.0.0 or later already installed, then follow the upgrade instructions included in the services documentation

The GRIA application deployment tutorial describes the process of making applications available to clients though the GRIA system.

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during the installation process, in the first instance consult the Known Issues and Technical FAQ. If this does not provide a satisfactory resolution then please contact GRIA support.