Grid Computing in the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) scientific experiment

TL;DR

The paper discusses the evolution of the CDF experiment's computing model from dedicated farms to extensive use of global grid computing, highlighting the development of portals for seamless resource access.

Contribution

It presents the transition and integration of grid computing in the CDF experiment, demonstrating how portals facilitate transparent access to distributed resources.

Findings

Successful migration to grid computing for CDF

Portals enable seamless resource access

Grid standards and practices are evolving

Abstract

The computing model for the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) scientific experiment has evolved since the beginning of the experiment. Initially CDF computing was comprised of dedicated resources located in computer farms around the world. With the wide spread acceptance of grid computing in High Energy Physics, CDF computing has migrated to using grid computing extensively. CDF uses computing grids around the world. Each computing grid has required different solutions. The use of portals as interfaces to the collaboration computing resources has proven to be an extremely useful technique allowing the CDF physicists transparently migrate from using dedicated computer farm to using computing located in grid farms often away from Fermilab. Grid computing at CDF continues to evolve as the grid standards and practices change.