Volume 7, Number 1 - Grid Computing

Grid Computing Defined

Grid computing is an emerging technology that transforms a computational infrastructure into an integrated, pervasive virtual environment for dynamic collaboration and shared resources no matter where they are located, and potentially anywhere in the world - providing users with unprecedented computing power, services and information.

Grids connect heterogeneous computing platforms and data sources so that they operate, and appear to the user, as a single computing system and data repository. Computational problems can be submitted to the grid for quick processing in the most cost effective manner - often faster and more efficient than monolithic supercomputers.

The Internet enables computers to communicate with each other. Grid enables computers to work together. Grid computing is the next evolution of the Internet dovetailing with the next generation of distributed computing, peer-to-peer computing, virtual collaboration technologies and Web services, resulting in new, more powerful ways to conduct business and research. Through the use of grids, businesses and researchers can complete computing-intensive tasks in a fraction of the time required with today's conventional resources.

Source: MCNC Grid Computing & Network Services