Behind the Innovator: Jeff Glatstein, Senior Manager of Cyberinfrastructure, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Jeff Glatstein, Senior Manager for Cyberinfrastructure at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), spoke about his experience using Apache Cassandra and the DataStax Luna program in managing data from over 800 instruments across the oceans. WHOI's system uses Cassandra to store approximately 90 terabytes of data, which is freely available online. Glatstein initially found Cassandra challenging due to a lack of familiar tools and expertise but discovered Luna, which provided valuable insights into their system's performance and architecture. Since working with Luna, WHOI has seen improvements in node management, garbage cleanup, and overall system health. The organization plans to continue using Cassandra as they move their data center and explore cloud computing solutions. Glatstein emphasizes the importance of being open, listening, and seeking expert support when navigating today's software landscape.