title: Reprint of: Simulation Platform: a cloud-based online simulation environment.
abstract: For multi-scale and multi-modal neural modeling, it is needed to handle multiple neural models described at different levels seamlessly. Database technology will become more important for these studies, specifically for downloading and handling the neural models seamlessly and effortlessly. To date, conventional neuroinformatics databases have solely been designed to archive model files, but the databases should provide a chance for users to validate the models before downloading them. In this paper, we report our on-going project to develop a cloud-based web service for online simulation called "Simulation Platform". Simulation Platform is a cloud of virtual machines running GNU/Linux. On a virtual machine, various software including developer tools such as compilers and libraries, popular neural simulators such as GENESIS, NEURON and NEST, and scientific software such as Gnuplot, R and Octave, are pre-installed. When a user posts a request, a virtual machine is assigned to the user, and the simulation starts on that machine. The user remotely accesses to the machine through a web browser and carries out the simulation, without the need to install any software but a web browser on the user's own computer. Therefore, Simulation Platform is expected to eliminate impediments to handle multiple neural models that require multiple software.
authors.affiliation: RIKEN BSI-TOYOTA Collaboration Center, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeno
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kannon
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usui
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016208:Databases, Factual; D048088:Informatics; D020407:Internet; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009862:Online Systems; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface