VDFS-WSA Quarterly Report: 2004 Quarter 3 Month 2 (August)
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(sorry couldn't be bothered to put this in PDF format)


Project management:

Shortlisting and interview invitations have been done for the two
new software developer posts; interviews take place on the 22/23
September.


Hardware:

A stable Ultra320 solution seems to have been finally achieved for
the catalogue servers. The latest tests indicate trawl speeds of
250 MByte/s (compared with 300 with the previous unstable design)
but with the added bonuses of RAID5 fault tolerance and much higher
expansion capability. Final tests over the next week will be
made to ensure all is well, then both catalogue servers will be
brought up to the new configuration (at no cost to VDFS) and at the 
same time expanded to high storage capacity in readiness for WFCAM 
data and deploying SDSS DR2 in the science archive.


Software:

Progress has slowed somewhat on the curation software with the loss
of IAB.

NCH and ETWS have worked flat-out to complete and integrate unfinished
IAB codes. Much refactoring has been done this month to produce
a better documented, and more easily maintained software product.


SSA:

The SSA continues to be used extensively but there is a lack of
written feedback, particularly from the UKIDSS user community.
A reminder has been sent out via several email distribution lists
in an attempt to encourage more feedback.


Astrogrid deployment:

The Astrogrid "Publisher's Astronomy Library (?)" (PAL) has been
deployed on the WFCAM Science Archive. Testing is underway by
Astrogrid personnel.


Miscellaneous:

Following last week's minuted discussion concerning user 
registration, authentication and data access policy, AA at JAC is
co-ordinating discussions between the WSA team, UKIDSS and the
UKIRT Board with a view to presenting a proposal to the Board at the
next (November) meeting.