The Anatomy of the Grid: Enabling Scalable Virtual Organizations

Title: The Anatomy of the Grid: Enabling Scalable Virtual Organizations

Abstract: The term "Grid" refers to a distributed computing infrastructure designed for advanced science and engineering. This research article defines the Grid problem as flexible, secure, and coordinated resource sharing among dynamic collections of individuals, institutions, and resources. It presents an extensible and open Grid architecture, categorizing protocols, services, application programming interfaces, and software development kits based on their roles in enabling resource sharing. The article discusses requirements for these mechanisms and the central role played by intergrid protocols, which enable interoperability among different Grid systems. It also explores the relationship between Grid technologies and other contemporary technologies, such as enterprise integration, application service provider, storage service provider, and peer-to-peer computing. The authors argue that Grid concepts and technologies complement and have much to contribute to these other approaches.

Main Research Question: How can Grid technologies enable flexible, secure, and coordinated resource sharing among dynamic collections of individuals, institutions, and resources?

Methodology: The research team investigated the concept of the Grid by reviewing the "Grid problem" and defining the necessary requirements for Grid technologies. They presented an extensible and open Grid architecture, categorizing various components based on their roles in resource sharing. The article also discussed the interoperability among different Grid systems and explored the relationship between Grid technologies and other contemporary technologies.

Results: The research team identified the need for flexible, secure, and coordinated resource sharing among dynamic collections of individuals, institutions, and resources. They presented an architecture that categorizes protocols, services, application programming interfaces, and software development kits based on their roles in enabling resource sharing. The article also discussed the central role played by intergrid protocols in ensuring interoperability among different Grid systems.

Implications: The research highlights the importance of Grid technologies in enabling resource sharing among dynamic collections of individuals, institutions, and resources. It also emphasizes the complementary nature of Grid technologies and their potential to contribute significantly to other contemporary technologies. The article suggests that as these technologies grow, they can benefit from the problem space addressed by Grid technologies.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0103025v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0103025v1