Grid Computing

= "the ability, using a set of open standards and protocols, to gain access to applications and data, processing power, storage capacity and a vast array of other computing resources over the Internet. A Grid is a type of parallel and distributed system that enables the sharing, selection, and aggregation of resources distributed across 'multiple' administrative domains based on their (resources) availability, capacity, performance, cost and users' quality-of-service requirements" (IBM definition, cited at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_computing)

Definition

From the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_computing

Grid Computing has three aspects:

• Computing resources are not administered centrally.

• Open standards are used.

• Non-trivial quality of service is achieved.

Typology

one can classify Grids into several types:

• Computational Grids (including CPU scavenging Grids) which focuses primarily on computationally-intensive operations.

• Data Grids or the controlled sharing and management of large amounts of distributed data.

• Equipment Grids which have a primary piece of equipment e.g. a telescope, and where the surrounding Grid is used to control the equipment remotely and to analyse the data produced.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_computing)

More Information

Ian Foster, Carl Kesselman and Steven Tuecke, The Anatomy of the Grid, INT’L. J. SUPERCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS, available at http://www.globus.org/research/papers/anatomy.pdf (describing the next generation of "grid" computing which will provide the technical infrastructure for collective action, group collaboration and virtual firms).