[opendap-tech] Research project calling for dynamic installations of a lightweight java opendap server

[David A. Alexander]

Dear OPeNDAP Developers,

I have a project that calls for installing a Java OPeNDAP server on a 
target host where a scientific simulation is run.  These installations 
will need to be on-the-fly so that it can act as a personal data server 
to the Java application that installed it only during the time the 
simulation is running and the Java application is connected to the 
simulation host.  The idea is that the Java application will start the 
remote simulation, start the OPeNDAP server, the simulation then writes 
out data files (in HDF or netCDF formats) where the server can access 
them, and finally the Java application act as a client to the data 
server.  The application can then browse the data, retrieve parts, and 
all the other good functions that OPeNDAP supplies.

This use calls for a very lightweight server that is optimized for a 
very specific function.  No security is necessary since it not a public 
server (it could be tunneled through a secure socket, but basically 
there is one and only one client accessing the server).  I have done 
some research and am aware of the JDAP server 
(http://www.opendap.org/download/java-dap.html) and I can image 
optimizing a bundle of the server including Tomcat that I can upload to 
the simulation host and start on-the-fly, but I believe there would be 
some work involved in pairing down the amount of code that needs to be 
uploaded.  Also, as I understand it there would potentially be the need 
for non-pure-Java code to read some of the data files such as HDF5.  
But, in theory, these problems could be solved and such a system might 
work well.

Does this seem like a reasonable approach?  Or am I totally naive in my 
solution plan?  Is there any existing work in this area?  Any comments, 
thoughts, or opinions would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
David

-- 
David Alexander
Deputy VP, Distributed Technologies, Tech-X Corporation
5621 Arapahoe Ave., Suite A, Boulder, CO  80303
Phone: 303-448-7751