BaBar Web job submission with Globus authentication and AFS access

TL;DR

This paper describes two versions of a grid job submission system for the BaBar experiment, utilizing Globus authentication and AFS access, addressing key challenges and solutions in distributed data processing.

Contribution

It introduces two implementations of a grid job submission system for BaBar, focusing on authentication, data access, and job management using Globus and AFS.

Findings

Successfully processed distributed data across multiple sites.

Identified and addressed key authentication and authorization challenges.

Progressed towards enterprise-level grid computing capabilities.

Abstract

We present two versions of a grid job submission system produced for the BaBar experiment. Both use globus job submission to process data spread across various sites, producing output which can be combined for analysis. The problems encountered with authorisation and authentication, data location, job submission, and the input and output sandboxes are described, as are the solutions. The total system is still some way short of the aims of enterprises such as the EDG, but represent a significant step along the way.