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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=
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]]s.
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