A model for client recommendation to a desktop grid server

A vast amount of idle computational power of desktop computers could be utilized throughout desktop grids. For an appropriate utilization, the scheduler, needs to determine clients which are best suited to deliver assigned jobs in time. Diversity of hosts (i.e. OS, hardware and network specifications) and intermittent availability of resources are known issues which complicate the schedulers work. As a solution to this problem, a client–server model consisting two modules for a desktop grid middleware is discussed: a module to forecast machine resource availability in the client side and a module in the server side that recommends clients to the scheduler that are the nearest to job expectations. Historic data, time-series analyses and machine learning are used for this purpose in the modules

Reflections on the use of Project Wonderland as a mixed-reality environment for teaching and learning

This paper reflects on the lessons learnt from MiRTLE?a collaborative research project to create a ?mixed reality teaching and learning environment? that enables teachers and students participating in real-time mixed and online classes to interact with avatar representations of each other. The key hypothesis of the project is that avatar representations of teachers and students can help create a sense of shared presence, engendering a greater sense of community and improving student engagement in online lessons. This paper explores the technology that underpins such environments by presenting work on the use of a massively multi-user game server, based on Sun?s Project Darkstar and Project Wonderland tools, to create a shared teaching environment, illustrating the process by describing the creation of a virtual classroom. It is planned that the MiRTLE platform will be used in several trial applications ? which are described in the paper. These example applications are then used to explore some of the research issues arising from the use of virtual environments within an education environment. The research discussion initially focuses on the plans to assess this within the MiRTLE project. This includes some of the issues of designing virtual environments for teaching and learning, and how supporting pedagogical and social theories can inform this process

Energy Savings Through Multi-Level Security Clients

In a multi-desktop environment, where users are required to access separate desktops to use different systems due to security requirements, the redundant desktop computers present a gross inefficiency in relation to power consumption even if each individual system is thoroughly examined and overhauled for energy efficiency. Several organizations require the use of separate networks and computer systems to perform different functions or access different data. The separation of networks is often the consequence of the need for security between the information and data on each individual system. The military is an excellent example of this situation. The need to separate classified, secret, and top-secret information has resulted in the need for access to several separate networks. This case study will measure the power savings through consolidating multiple desktop computers into one multi-level security client