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.
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.
MAST can be installed to be used with the Access Grid Toolkit versions 2.x and 3.
Windows: Install Access Grid, then download the MASTService installer and follow the instructions to install the service. There are two installers available one for AG2.x and the other for AG3
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.
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.
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
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
MAST was developed by
Gareth Lewis - Project Leader, developer
Syed Mehmood ul-Hasan - developer
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