Grid computing

GRID COMPUTING Today's science is much based on computation, data analysis, and collaboration as on the efforts of individual experimentalists and theorists. Grid computing is the application of several computers to a single problem at the same time. Grid computing depends on software to divide and apportion pieces of a program among several computers.

In case of clusters, the resource allocation is performed by a centralised resource manager and all nodes cooperatively work together as a single unified resource. In case of Grids, each node has its own resource manager and do not aim for providing a single system view. One of the major disadvantages of this feature is that the computers which are actually performing the calculations might not be entirely trustworthy.

How grid computing works

The following are the major business areas for grid computing Life sciences – analyze biological and chemical information. Financial services- for complex financial models. Higher education – data and computation- intensive research. Engineering services – collaborative design and data-intensive testing. Government – collaboration and agility in both civil and military departments

Some of prominent Grid computing organizations worldwide Global Grid Forum(GGF) European Grid Forum IBM Unicor Forum Griphyn

References Joshy Joseph, Craig Fellenstein, Pearson Pte.Ltd, pg no:35. http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://stat ic.howstuffworks.com/gif/grid-computing. http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/sDefinitio n/0,,sid80_gci773157,00.html.