Topaz : A GridFTP extension to Firefox M. Taufer, R. Zamudio, D. Catarino, K. Bhatia, B. Stearn University of Texas at El Paso San Diego Supercomputer Center

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Topaz A GridFTP extension to Firefox M.
Taufer, R. Zamudio, D. Catarino,
K. Bhatia, B. Stearn
University of Texas at El Paso
San Diego Supercomputer Center
Topaz Framework
Abstract As grid infrastructures mature, an
increasing challenge is to provide end-user
scientists with intuitive interfaces to access
computational services, data management
capabilities, and visualization tools. Topaz
provides scientists with a user friendly
interface for data management by extending
Firefox to allows access to GridFTP servers
directly from desktop machines. With the Topaz
extension, the Firefox browser directly supports
the GridFTP protocol allowing the user to specify
a gsiftp url (gsiftp//server/file) and
provides file upload and download capabilities.
Topaz works with the GAMA security infrastructure
to support GSI-based user authentication.

• GridFTP
• GridFTP is a high-performance, secure, reliable
  data transfer protocol optimized for
  high-bandwidth wide-area networks. It features
• GSI security De-facto standard security system
  used in Grid applications.
• Third-party transfers Mediation transfer between
  two servers.
• Partial file access Upload or download only a
  specified region of a file.
• Reliability/restart Periodically save progress
  and restart from last position if transfer fails.
• Large file support All file sizes, lengths, and
  offsets are 64 bits.
• Parallel transfers Multiple TCP streams are used
  between two hosts.
• Firefox
• Firefox is the second most popular browser, with
  over 12 of the market, and runs on all modern
  platforms. Firefox extensions can be built by
  wrapping new functionalities, e.g., client
  protocol implementations, into the Mozilla
  component framework.

Security Integration
By using GAMA web services, Topaz obtains the
required user and host certificates necessary for
accessing GridFTP servers. Topaz provides the
capability for managing a list of currently and
previously used GAMA servers.
Topaz takes advantage of Firefoxs expandability
to provided users with a familiar interface for
data management on the grid. The Topaz software
components connect the easy to use browser to the
powerful GridFTP protocol provided by the Globus
toolkit libraries. No Globus library needs to be
installed a priori.
Listing, Downloading, and Uploading
Listing and download Topaz determines whether
the gsiftp URL given by the user represents a
file or directory and issues the corresponding
request to establish a data connection to
download the content. Globus fetches raw data
from the GridFTP server and forwards it to Topaz
that formats the data appropriately for the
request (directory listing or file content) and
forwards the formatted data to Firefox.
After the GAMA server specified by the user is
contacted, a login window prompts the user for
their information in order to authenticate and
obtain the certificates that are necessary for
accessing the GridFTP servers.
Topaz Features GSI security View directory
contents Upload and download files Drag and drop
installation Built-in authentication Download http
//gcl.utep.edu/projects/topaz Coming Soon Third
party transfers Authentication via my proxy
Upload Topaz allows users to upload files to the
GridFTP servers by using an intuitive file
picking interface system the user selects the
file to upload through the Firefox file dialog.
File object and current gsiftp URL from the
location bar are passed to Topaz. Topaz
establishes a control connection, authenticates
the user, and opens a data connection for upload.
Topaz also opens the file and sends the data over
the data connection to the GridFTP server.
References

• K. Bhatia, M. Taufer, B. Stearn, R. Zamudio, D.
  Catarino Integrate GridFTP into Firefox - Build
  grid protocols into Mozilla-based tools. IBM
  developWork, 10 Oct 2006
• 2. K. Bhatia, B. Stearn, M. Taufer, R. Zamudio,
  and D. Catarino Extending Grid Protocols onto
  the Desktop using the Mozilla Framework. In
  Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on
  Grid Computing Environments (GCE 2006), in
  conjunction with SC 2006, November 2006, Tampa,
  Florida
• 3. K. Bhatia, K.?Mueller, S. Chandra GAMA Grid
  Account Management Architecture. IEEE
  International Conference on EScience and Grid
  Computing, Dec 2005

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