Grid computing: Difference between revisions

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{{Distinguish|Cluster computing}}

{{More footnotes needed|date=April 2025}}

'''Grid computing''' is the use of widely distributed [[computer]] [[System resource|resources]] to reach a common goal. A computing grid can be thought of as a [[distributed system]] with non-interactive workloads that involve many files. Grid computing is distinguished from conventional high-performance computing systems such as [[Cluster (computing)|cluster]] computing in that grid computers have each node set to perform a different task/application. Grid computers also tend to be more [[heterogeneous]] and geographically dispersed (thus not physically coupled) than cluster computers.<ref>[http://www.e-sciencecity.org/EN/gridcafe/what-is-the-grid.html What is grid computing? - Gridcafe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210072831/http://www.e-sciencecity.org/EN/gridcafe/what-is-the-grid.html |date=2013-02-10 }}. E-sciencecity.org. Retrieved 2013-09-18.</ref> Although a single grid can be dedicated to a particular application, commonly a grid is used for a variety of purposes. Grids are often constructed with general-purpose grid [[middleware]] software libraries. Grid sizes can be quite large.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/893875/software-scale-grid-computing-down-to-size.html |title=Scale grid computing down to size |publisher=NetworkWorld.com |date=2003-01-27 |access-date=2015-04-21 |archive-date=2023-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206075823/https://www.networkworld.com/article/893875/software-scale-grid-computing-down-to-size.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

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===Progress===

In November 2006, [[Edward Seidel]] received the [[Sidney Fernbach Award]] at the Supercomputing Conference in [[Tampa, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Edward Seidel 2006 Sidney Fernbach Award Recipient|url=http://www.computer.org/portal/web/awards/seidel|work=IEEE Computer Society Awards|publisher=IEEE Computer Society|access-date=14 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815212928/http://www.computer.org/portal/web/awards/seidel|archive-date=15 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> "For outstanding contributions to the development of software for HPC and Grid computing to enable the collaborative numerical investigation of complex problems in physics; in particular, modeling black hole collisions."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computer.org/portal/web/awards/seidel|title=Edward Seidel • IEEE Computer Society|website=www.computer.org|access-date=14 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815212928/http://www.computer.org/portal/web/awards/seidel|archive-date=15 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> This award, which is one of the highest honors in computing, was awarded for his achievements in numerical relativity.

==Fastest virtual supercomputers==

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The [[NASA Advanced Supercomputing facility]] (NAS) ran [[genetic algorithm]]s using the [[Condor cycle scavenger]] running on about 350 [[Sun Microsystems]] and [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]] workstations.

In 2001, [[United Devices]] operated the [[United Devices Cancer Research Project]] based on its [[Grid MP]] product, which cycle-scavenges on volunteer PCs connected to the Internet. The project ran on about 3.1 million machines before its close in 2007.<ref>[http{{Cite web|url=https://wwwaltair.grid.orgcom/stats/] {{webarchivehpc-cloud-applications|urlarchiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407201958/http://www.grid.org/stats/|dateurl-status=dead|title=High-performance Computing (HPC) and Cloud Solutions &#124; Altair|archivedate=April 7, 2007|website=Default}}</ref>

===Definitions===

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* Plaszczak/Wellner<ref>P Plaszczak, R Wellner, ''Grid computing'', 2005, Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco</ref> define grid technology as "the technology that enables resource virtualization, on-demand provisioning, and service (resource) sharing between organizations."

* IBM defines grid computing as “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”.<ref>IBM Solutions Grid for Business Partners: Helping IBM Business Partners to Grid-enable applications for the next phase of e-business on demand</ref>

* An earlier example of the notion of computing as thea utility was in 1965 by MIT's Fernando Corbató. Corbató and the other designers of the Multics operating system envisioned a computer facility operating “like a power company or water company”.<ref>[http://www.multicians.org/fjcc3.html Structure of the Multics Supervisor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116070940/http://www.multicians.org/fjcc3.html |date=2014-01-16 }}. Multicians.org. Retrieved 2013-09-18.</ref>

* Buyya/Venugopal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buyya.com/papers/GridIntro-CSI2005.pdf|title=A Gentle Introduction to Grid Computing and Technologies|access-date=May 6, 2005|archive-date=March 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324161402/http://www.buyya.com/papers/GridIntro-CSI2005.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> define grid as "a type of parallel and distributed system that enables the sharing, selection, and aggregation of geographically distributed [[Wiktionary:autonomy|autonomous]] resources dynamically at runtime depending on their availability, capability, performance, cost, and users' quality-of-service requirements".