Michael, The "Louisiana Access Grid Network" utilizes the AGScheduler exclusively for keeping track of all the Access Grid events it hosts - while utilizing our own Louisiana Venue Server to run the meetings. As you know, we have our venue server listed on the site for registration purposes with 6 venues. They've been successful and the booking capability in the AGScheduler makes it possible to easily book and maintain these reservations and sessions. We're currently (but not all registered, some are multiple nodes per site) up to ~18 Access Grid nodes within our state that are operational with some more coming on line in the near future that makes use of this. When we conduct meetings with external sites, we sometimes utilize the NCSA Venue Server and bridge as needed, particularly since it's so well known in the global community and for some sites the firewall security restrictions make it such they've chosen the NCSA venue addresses as those they'll accept. Even VRVS.ORG, etc. is setup with NCSA venues. What I'm trying to say is currently, the AGScheduler (and the venue server) is providing a vital service to the "Access Grid" community here in my state as well as worldwide.
Currently, I require new Louisiana Access Grid nodes to register to the AGScheduler so that we maintain consistency for reservations and track our usage with the statistics the scheduler provides. So, the resource is invaluable at the moment and would be sorely missed for the ability to point everyone joining a meeting to it for reference for when and where the meeting is to be held for the lack of any other central calendar facility (at least on this side of the pond). Frankly, I'm not sure what we would do if we lost it in the near term - it seems to be a central resource for the Access Grid community as a whole. Regards, John Q. -- John I. Quebedeaux, Jr.; Louisiana State University Computer Manager LBRN; 131 Life Sciences Bldg. e-mail: jo...@lsu.edu; web: http://lbrn.lsu.edu phone: 225-578-0062 / fax: 225-578-2597 > From: Michael Miller <mimil...@ncsa.uiuc.edu> > Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:07:02 -0500 > To: ag-tech <ag-t...@mcs.anl.gov>, <ag-u...@mcs.anl.gov>, <ag-...@mcs.anl.gov> > Subject: [AG-TECH] AGSchedule Support > > NCSA is currently evaluating its support for AGSchedule. We are > requesting input from the AG Community both techs and users as to the > value of AGSchedule, its potential if continued and impact if no > longer available. Also, we would like to know if other scheduling > systems are currently in use within the AG Community or other > collaborative communities. Please send your comments to the > AGSchedule Administrator: agsched...@ncsa.uiuc.edu. Please include a > statement as to whether your comments may be shared with NCSA > Administration officials and/or included as support for grant > proposals. Your comments are greatly appreciated. > > Thank you, > > Michael Miller > AGSchedule Administrator > NCSA >
