Review of the progress and planning of the computing efforts at CERN and of the LHC-experiments for the LHC start-up

 

  1. Purpose and Mandate

At about mid-term between the publication of the technical proposals of the experiments and the start-up of LHC and well before the submission of the computing TDRs of the experiments it is an appropriate moment to review the computing plans of the LHC experiments and the corresponding preparations of IT Division with the following aims:

  1. Update the assessment of individual, experiment specific, regional and CERN facilities and their relative roles required to perform the computing of the LHC experiments and update the estimates of the corresponding resources required, taking into account the evolution of the underlying technologies. Identify the software packages to operate in the various places. Identify services to be provided centrally. Identify activities which have to be done at CERN.
  2. Assess the analysis software projects and their organisational structures and interfaces between parts, the corresponding role of CERN and possible common efforts.
  3. Review and comment about the overall and individual computing project management structures and review the resources required.

The outcome of the assessment will help CERN and the experiments to formulate resource loaded work-plans with objectives, detailed schedules and milestones between now and LHC start to be described finally in their computing TDRs.

The results of the review will be the basis for CERN, the collaborating institutes and their funding agencies, for the formulation of Computing Memoranda of Understanding, which will describe the commitments of institutes inside the collaborations towards their computing goals and commitments of CERN to provide computing infrastructure and central facilities for the LHC era. The MoUs should be put in place in 2001.

The review team should recommend actions and in particular common actions between experiments and IT Division that will help to achieve these goals within the existing resources.

The review reports to the Research Board and the Director General. Interim status reports will be given to FOCUS, LHCC and other appropriate bodies.