History

The CERN openlab concept was formulated in 2001 and stayed basically unchanged throughout the last decade. CERN openlab has been organised into successive three-year phases. In openlab-I (2003–2005), the focus was on the development of an advanced prototype called opencluster.

CERN openlab-II (2006–2008) addressed a range of domains from platforms, databases and Grid, security and networking with HP, Intel and Oracle as partners and EDS, an HP company, as a contributor.

The third phase (2009-2011) capitalised on and extended the work carried out in openlab-II with Intel, HP and Oracle, and also tackled new areas with Siemens joining as a new partner. The creation of the Automation and Controls competence centre was a direct consequence of this new partnership. The aim of the project was to improve the security of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), to open Supervision Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and PLC software to common software practices, and to develop solutions to deploy SCADA and PLC software in large installations. The combined knowledge and dedication of the engineers from CERN and the companies have produced exceptional results leading to significant innovation in many areas.

CERN openlab is now in the first year of its fourth phase (2012-2014). This phase will address new topics crucial to the CERN scientific programme, such as cloud computing, business analytics, the next generation of hardware, and security for the myriads of networks devices.

openlab inception

Before the first phase of CERN openlab started in 2003, the collaboration carried out some intial work starting in 2001. The first CERN openlab annual report covers this period.

openlab phase I

During its first phase, CERN openlab constructed a grid-enabled compute and storage farm called the opencluster, based on hp dual processors machines, Intel's Itanium family processors, Enterasys's 10-Gbps switches and a high-capacity storage system based on IBM's StorageTank system.

openlab phase II

The framework of the second phase of openlab was similar to that of the first phase, with the aim of hosting a few major projects with a particular focus on Grid-related technologies and services. The projects were organized in four activities.

openlab phase III

The Automation and Controls Competence Centre was created at the inception of the third phase, with Siemens joining as a partner. New projects were carried out with HP in the Networking Competence Centre, with Intel in the Platform Competence Centre, and with Oracle and the Networking Competence.

openlab phase IV

The fourth phase (2012-2014) will address new topics crucial to the CERN scientific programme, such as cloud computing, business analytics, the next generation of hardware, and security for the myriads of network devices.

CERN Accelerating science

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About CERN openlab