Charles Loomis

UCL (University College London) hosts STFC's first Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in data intensive science (DIS). DIS encompasses a wide range of areas in the field of big-data including the collection, storage and analysis of large datasets, as well as the use of complex models, algorithms and machine learning techniques to interpret the data.

I chaired the Centre’s Advisory Board (CAB), which consisted of 10-15 experts with diverse backgrounds from around Europe. In conjunction… Show more

UCL (University College London) hosts STFC's first Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in data intensive science (DIS). DIS encompasses a wide range of areas in the field of big-data including the collection, storage and analysis of large datasets, as well as the use of complex models, algorithms and machine learning techniques to interpret the data.

I chaired the Centre’s Advisory Board (CAB), which consisted of 10-15 experts with diverse backgrounds from around Europe. In conjunction with the other members, I prepared the board’s recommendations from our comprehensive biannual reviews and monitored the implementation of those recommendations. Show less

Taking a holistic approach, the SCISSOR (Security In trusted SCADA and smart grids) project designed a new generation SCADA monitoring framework with an emphasis on security. SCISSOR’s framework leveraged SixSq’s cloud application management platform, SlipStream, to provide reliable, automated deployment of the SCISSOR services and user applications.

SixSq developed the NuvlaBox, a cloud-based edge computing device managed via SlipStream. I lead the development of the NuvlaBox and its… Show more

Taking a holistic approach, the SCISSOR (Security In trusted SCADA and smart grids) project designed a new generation SCADA monitoring framework with an emphasis on security. SCISSOR’s framework leveraged SixSq’s cloud application management platform, SlipStream, to provide reliable, automated deployment of the SCISSOR services and user applications.

SixSq developed the NuvlaBox, a cloud-based edge computing device managed via SlipStream. I lead the development of the NuvlaBox and its hardening to allow for high levels of reliability and robustness in remote locations. An 18-month, real-world deployment on a remote island in Italy validated the NuvlaBox concept, hardware, and software. Show less

The CYCLONE (Complete Dynamic Multi-Cloud Application Management) project provided application software providers with tools that facilitated the deployment, management, and use of their multi-cloud applications, while enhancing the end-to-end security of the platform. Multi-cloud application deployments can enhance the reliability of an applications and allow access to geographically distributed data.

I lead SixSq’s effort to enhance SlipStream to support true multi-cloud applications… Show more

The CYCLONE (Complete Dynamic Multi-Cloud Application Management) project provided application software providers with tools that facilitated the deployment, management, and use of their multi-cloud applications, while enhancing the end-to-end security of the platform. Multi-cloud application deployments can enhance the reliability of an applications and allow access to geographically distributed data.

I lead SixSq’s effort to enhance SlipStream to support true multi-cloud applications and dynamic horizontal scaling of those applications. SlipStream integration with external user authentication services (e.g. SAML, OAuth) was critical for the platform’s adoption in multi-organization scientific collaborations. Show less

Quattor is system administration toolkit that provides a powerful, portable, and modular set of tools for the automated installation, configuration, and management of clusters, farms, grids, and clouds. This toolkit, used to manage data centers with 10s to 10s of thousands of systems, grew out of the European DataGrid project that ran from 2001 to 2004.

Having seen the promise of Quattor for simplifying the management of our lab’s computing services, I collaborated with the original… Show more

Quattor is system administration toolkit that provides a powerful, portable, and modular set of tools for the automated installation, configuration, and management of clusters, farms, grids, and clouds. This toolkit, used to manage data centers with 10s to 10s of thousands of systems, grew out of the European DataGrid project that ran from 2001 to 2004.

Having seen the promise of Quattor for simplifying the management of our lab’s computing services, I collaborated with the original authors to harden the toolkit for use in production settings. In particular, I rewrote the pan language compiler at the heart of the toolkit in multi-threaded Java to resolve performance and usability issues. After the end of the DataGrid project, I convened the first workshops that established the enduring Quattor community. Show less

The StratusLab project, co-funded by the European Commission, created one of the first open source software distributions for deploying private cloud infrastructures. Academic and commercial institutions used this platform in production for many years after the project’s end.

I led the efforts to create the StatusLab collaboration and to write the project proposal. As coordinator of the funded project (3 M€), I managed the project’s administrative and financial aspects and liaised with… Show more

The StratusLab project, co-funded by the European Commission, created one of the first open source software distributions for deploying private cloud infrastructures. Academic and commercial institutions used this platform in production for many years after the project’s end.

I led the efforts to create the StatusLab collaboration and to write the project proposal. As coordinator of the funded project (3 M€), I managed the project’s administrative and financial aspects and liaised with the European Commission. On the technical side, I designed the project’s data storage and appliance management services, contributing also to their implementations in Java. Show less