Grid computing: Difference between revisions

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{{Distinguish|Cluster computing}}

'''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>

Grids are a form of [[distributed computing]] composed of many networked [[Loose coupling|loosely coupled]] computers acting together to perform large tasks. For certain applications, distributed or grid computing can be seen as a special type of [[parallel computing]] that relies on complete computers (with onboard CPUs, storage, power supplies, network interfaces, etc.) connected to a [[computer network]] (private or public) by a conventional [[Network interface controller|network interface]], such as [[Ethernet]]. This is in contrast to the traditional notion of a [[supercomputer]], which has many processors connected by a local high-speed [[computer bus]]. This technology has been applied to computationally intensive scientific, mathematical, and academic problems through [[volunteer computing]], and it is used in commercial enterprises for such diverse applications as [[drug discovery]], [[economic forecasting]], [[seismic analysis]], and [[back office]] data processing in support for [[e-commerce]] and [[Web service]]sservices.

Grid computing combines computers from multiple administrative domains to reach a common goal,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://dlib.cs.odu.edu/WhatIsTheGrid.pdf|title=What is the Grid? A Three Point Checklist|access-date=2010-10-21|archive-date=2014-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122035905/http://dlib.cs.odu.edu/WhatIsTheGrid.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> to solve a single task, and may then disappear just as quickly. The size of a grid may vary from small—confined to a network of computer workstations within a corporation, for example—to large, public collaborations across many companies and networks. "The notion of a confined grid may also be known as an intra-nodes cooperation whereas the notion of a larger, wider grid may thus refer to an inter-nodes cooperation".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://diuf.unifr.ch/pai/wiki/doku.php?id=Publications&page=publication&kind=single&ID=276 |title=Pervasive and Artificial Intelligence Group :: publications [Pervasive and Artificial Intelligence Research Group&#93; |publisher=Diuf.unifr.ch |date=May 18, 2009 |access-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707004350/http://diuf.unifr.ch/pai/wiki/doku.php?id=Publications&page=publication&kind=single&ID=276 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Coordinating applications on Grids can be a complex task, especially when coordinating the flow of information across distributed computing resources. [[Scientific workflow system|Grid workflow]] systems have been developed as a specialized form of a [[workflow management system]] designed specifically to compose and execute a series of computational or data manipulation steps, or a workflow, in the grid context.

==Comparison of grids and conventional supercomputers==

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===Definitions===

Today there are many definitions of ''grid computing'':

*In his article “What is the Grid? A Three Point Checklist”,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |title=What is the Grid? A Three Point Checklist |url=http://dlib.cs.odu.edu/WhatIsTheGrid.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122035905/http://dlib.cs.odu.edu/WhatIsTheGrid.pdf |archive-date=2014-11-22 |access-date=2010-10-21}}</ref> [[Ian Foster (computer scientist)|Ian Foster]] lists these primary attributes:

**[[Computing resource]]s are not administered centrally.

**[[Open standards]] are used.