Grid Computing

Grid computing is applying the resources of many computers in a network to a single problem at the same time<br /> <br /> Grid computing appears to be a promising trend for three reasons:<br /> (1) Its ability to make more cost-effective use of a given amount of computer resources,<br /> (2) As a way to solve problems that can’t be approached without an enormous amount of computing power<br /> (3) Because it suggests that the resources of many computers can be cooperatively and perhaps synergistically harnessed and managed as a collaboration toward a common objective.<br /> <br /> A number of corporations, professional groups, university consortiums, and other groups have developed or are developing frameworks and software for managing grid computing projects. The European Community (EU) is sponsoring a project for a grid for high-energy physics, earth observation, and biology applications. In the United States, the National Technology Grid is prototyping a computational grid for infrastructure and an access grid for people. Sun Microsystems offers Grid Engine software. Described as a distributed resource management tool, Grid Engine allows engineers at companies like Sony and Synopsys to pool the computer cycles on up to 80 workstations at a time.<br /> * “the Grid” is a very hot topic generating broad interest from research and industry (e.g. IBM, Platform, Avaki, Entropia, Sun, HP)<br /> * Grid architecture enables very popular e-Science projects like the Genome project which demand global interaction and networking<br /> * In recent surveys over 50% of Chief Information Officers are expected to use Grid technology this year<br /> Grid Computing:<br /> * Features contributions from the major players in the field<br /> * Covers all aspects of grid technology from motivation to applications<br /> * Provides an extensive state-of-the-art guide in grid computing<br /> <br /> This is essential reading for researchers in Computing and Engineering, physicists, statisticians, engineers and mathematicians and IT policy makers.