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Remote Component Environment (RCE)

RCE - Logo

The Remote Component Environment (RCE) is an all-purpose, distributed platform for integration of applications. RCE provides integrated applications access to general-purpose software components like a workflow engine, a privilege management, or an interface to external compute and storage resources (Grid, clusters). RCE enables the developers of integrated applications to concentrate on application-specific logic and to let the different applications interact by embedding them into one unified environment.

RCE is designed as a component-based system. It is build upon Equinox, an OSGi implementation, and on the Eclipse Rich Client Platform. OSGi (Open Services Gateway initiative) is a specification of a dynamic, modular platform written in Java. It is expedites by the OSGi Alliance (IBM, Oracle, T-Systems, ...) and it has been established as an industry standard within this area. The Rich Client Platform of Eclipse is broadly used and is applied if an application needs a substantial runtime environment, a graphical programming interface, or components like a help system or an update mechanism. Thus, RCE is not build from scratch, but was developed upon an existing base. So, it has using OSGi an approved module concept and by means of the Eclipse Rich Client Platform a well-engineered graphical user interface.

Distributed Data Management

RCE is runnable within a distributed environment on Windows and Unix systems. On every participating resource one instance of RCE is installed. These instances can have different characteristics due to the RCE components installed and the applications integrated - e.g. application server, client. data base server. RCE is designed in a way that its distribution is transparent to the user and the developer of integrated applications.

At the moment software components are realized as a part of RCE as follows:

• The communication component realizes the distributed system. As communication protocols RMI and SOAP are implemented so far.
• The privilege management allows the allocation of permissions at application and data level. The authentication is certificate-based and can be done with Single Sign-on within the RCE context.
• With the workflow engine integrated applications can be coupled to workflows within the distributed system.
• The Data Management allows to store data sets within the distributed system in persistent and version-controlled form.
• An unified Grid interface provides integrated applications access to heterogeneous Grid resources and HPC systems.
• Via the Web service interface other systems (e.g. Web portals) are enabled to access RCE and the integrated applications.
• The optional Graphical User Interface (GUI) of RCE contains beside the elements of the Eclipse Rich Client Platform a logging browser, notification browser, application browser, data explorer, project explorer and a table framework for creating table and trees, which fulfills the high requirements of engineer content.

Excel Plugin within RCE

In order to integrate applications, which are written in native languages like Fortran, C, or C++, an API (Application Programming Interface) is available within RCE.

Examples of integrated applications so far (existing and new developed ones):

• ANSYS (Lindenau)
• LS-DYNA (Lindenau)
• Excel (DLR e.V.)
• Fortran E4 Methods (Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft)
• Distributed Simulation of a Ship and Navigation Installation (SAM Electronics)
• Distributed Simulation of a Ship and Actuator Installation (SAM Electronics ) und Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft)
• Resource Estimation due to the base of an early Model(Center of Maritime Technologies e.V. (CMT))
• Maneuver Simulation during the early Design Phase (Technische Universität Hamburg - Harburg (TUHH))
• INDEED (GNS Systems)

Development

RCE was realized along with the Fraunhofer Institute for Algorithms and Scientific Computing SCAI in the SESIS project. In this cooperation the further development will go on.

Availability

RCE is available under the Eclipse Public License (EPL) and will be additionally offered under a proprietary license.

Links

• RCE Wiki
• Fraunhofer SCAI
• Project SESIS