Manchester Particle Physics

Policies and Computing Model

Policy on Policies

1. No policy document should be longer than one page2. It should include details of its implementation and of

ensuring complianceImplementation:People will not be expected to read beyond page 1 of

anything we come up with. Anything we produce will include ‘how’ as well as ‘what’. Compliance: Chair to check this, with help from others.

Laptops and Desktops• Every group member is entitled to the use of a laptop or a desktop, or

both if they do a lot of travelling.• These remain group property, to be returned if/when the member leaves.• These are low/mid range machines, cost typically £400. Number-

crunching and data analysis is done on clusters.Implementation: put in newsletter?Compliance: Fred/Roger/Sabah will not authorise other purchases • Support will be provided for group standard systems on group standard

platforms. Support for anyone doing anything else is a low priority task• Standard platforms are currently:…• Standard systems are currently:…Implementation: SabahCompliance: this meeting

The Grid• Every group member should have a grid

certificate• The Grid, especially the local Tier2 centre, should

be used for large computing jobs• Every assistance should be given to users in

getting to use the GridImplementation: Sabah for certificates, Alessandra

and Co. for Grid helpCompliance: Need data on certificates. Usage and

help through Tier 2 meetings and the ticketing system

Linux clusters

1. The linux/linux8 machines are used for intensive interactive work

2. These clusters are flat, with all machines providing an identical environment

3. User response on these machines should be as rapid as possible

Implementation: SabahCompliance: this meeting

Email

1. Every group member has an account at <firstname>.<lastname>@hep.manchester.ac.uk

2. Users who wish to use another address may do so, and must redirect the standard address to point to it, either themselves or by Sabah

3. All hep.man.ac.uk names will migrate to hep.manchester.ac.uk4. group@hep.manchester.ac.uk reaches everybody5. Subgroups (experiment, theory, postdocs…) will be provided as

required, with membership kept up to date and advertised on the web.

Implementation: SabahCompliance: Check addresses at Christmas meeting? Subgroups need

webmaster

Video Conferencing• Group members are encouraged to use Skype for

phone calls (1-1 and small groups) and 1-1 video conferencing

• Members are encouraged to put their Skype contact details on the group web pages

• ESNET is the standard for video conferencing. Everyone should have the equipment on their laptop/desktop and know how to use it

Implementation: Sabah, group members – newsletter article? Web page with instructions?

Compliance: All

Web pages1. Our web pages are the definitive information source for

– Group membership– Email addresses and phone numbers– Preprints– Seminars– …

2. They are also a shop window to the outside world3. Every page should have a responsible author listed4. Authors should keep their web pages up to date5. Group members have a personal home page and are encouraged

to use it Implementation: everybody, especially page authorsCompliance: need web Csar – Andrew? Personal web pages are very

variable and may need encouragement by a Thursday seminar?

Information Systems

1. The group Indico server is used for arranging meetings

2. Every group member should be known to the Indico server

3. Use of the group calendar for personal scheduling is encouraged and will hopefully grow

4. We have a group Wiki and need to consider in what way it is separate from the general web pages

Implementation: Point 2 needs doing

Printing

• Members should be able to print documents and get rapid (essentially instant) output from the central printers

• People needing to produce confidential documents (e.g. exam papers) can have printers in their offices

Implementation: there are problems and we need to understand them. Printing is often a struggle

More…

• Over to everyone else…