What Is Grid Computing?
Michael Di Stefano · 2005
Grid computing has emerged in recent years as a framework for supporting complex compilations over large data sets. In general, grids enable the efficient sharing and management of computing resources for the purpose of performing large complex tasks. In particular, grids have been defined as anything from batch schedulers to Peer-to-Peer (P2P) platforms. This chapter serves as an introduction to Grid Computing, Data Management in Grid, and the various discussion threads carried through this book. From the start, the confusion due to the overuse of technology buzzwords is level set. Discussion threads introduced here are carried throughout the following chapters, items such as the parallels of data management in Grid and Client/Server, the data access bottlenecks that emerge due to Grid and Client/Server Topology Mismatches that a true Data Grid must alleviate. Grid Computing represents a fundamental paradigm shift away from client/server as client server was to the mainframe/mini. As a result data management in this highly distributed compute environment needs to match challenges of the Grid Topology.