MAST: user manual

What is MAST?

Multicast Application Sharing Tool (MAST) is an application sharing tool which has been specifically developed for use in a group-to-group setting. It has been used in the NERC funded eMinerals Project to share applications for general research and seminars. MAST has been deployed as a Service within the Access Grid allowing you to share Applications within a Venue.

MAST can be installed to run as a stand alone application, or with the Access Grid Toolkit. The two methods of installing MAST are described below. We recommend using MAST with the Access Grid to make setting up connections easier.

Standalone installation

Windows: If you are installing MAST to be used standalone, without the Access Grid then you need to download the MAST.msi file from the download page. Once downloaded you can double click on the executable and a installation wizard will guide you through the installation.

Linux: There is a debian package available for Linux, this should work on both Linux and Ubuntu. Download the file and install as root user:

#dpkg -i mast-0.9.deb

The source code for MAST can be downloaded and installed using qmake.

Installing with Access Grid

There is a MASTService.zip file that is available for download from the download page. This can be used for Windows and Debian (must have qt and sdl runtime libraries installed):

Windows: Copy the MASTService.zip file to the directory C:\Program Files\AGtk-2.4\NodeServices\. When you execute the Venue Client add the MASTService using the Manage My Node dialog. See AG documentation for details.

Debian linux: Copy the MASTService.zip file to the directory /etc/AccessGrid/NodeServices/ and follow the same steps as in Windows.

Other Linux: If you compile MAST for your machine you can replace the mast executable in the MASTService.zip file with yours and follow the same steps as above.

Using MAST in standalone mode

MAST can be executed on Windows by selecting it from the Start menu or typing mast in the konsole. Once loaded you will be asked for you name and email address when you use it for the first time. Once you have entered this information you will be able to use MAST.

The first step will be to create a new connection configuration. If you select New Connection from the Settings menu, this will give you a dialog in which you can enter the address and port.

Multicast/Unicast Address: Here you enter the multicast address or the adress of the machine you want to unicast to (bridge or another user).

Port: The port on which the MAST data is to be streamed.

Save As: You can save multiple configs, enter a name and click on save.

The new configuration is now saved and you can open this configuration by selecting Open Connection from the Settings menu.

Once setup it is ready for you to connect by selecting Connect from the File menu (or from the toolbar). You should see your name appear in the list of participants. If you wish to change the name you must select User Details from the Settings menu.

To share an application, select Add/Remove from the File menu. This gives you a dialog which has a list of local applications on your desktop and the shared applications. If you select one of the applications in the Local list and click on the share-> button. When you click OK this will be shared to the group. You will be asked if you would like it to be called another name other than the application title.

When an application is being shared by a participant it will appear under their name. If you click on the application name then a window will appear with the application. You can click on other applications and the viewed application will change to the new application.

If you want to close the viewed application then simply close the window (known issue on Windows).

The rate at which the application can be streamed can be changed from the Preferences dialog. The radio button (Event Driven Updates) can be checked to improve the responsiveness of the application. It sends just the changes if an event occurs in the application being shared. (Known Issue - Currently disabled).

To disconnect you can select disconnect from the File menu (or toolbar) or exit the application.

Using MAST with the Access Grid

Follow the instructions to install MAST with the Access Grid. The service can be added to AG with the Manage My Node dialog. When you enter the Venue MAST will be executed and automatically join the multicast group for that Venue, or connect to the appropriate bridge. Using MAST with Access Grid will be the same as above, but you do not need to create/open a connection or connect. For further details on adding a service and using the Access Grid see the official Access Grid site

Credits and Licenses

MAST has been developed as part of the NERC funded eMinerals Project., and copyright is held by the Advanced Computing and Emerging Technology Centre, The University of Reading

This program is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License

This documentation is licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Current MAST Developers are

Gareth Lewis - Project Leader, developer

Mehmood Hasan - developer

General references

Papers that describe the MAST application and more general collaboratie issues are:

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