Grid computing represents a big step in the world of computing. The technology is still fairly nascent, but at the developerWorks Grid computing zone, they’re publishing a steady stream of new articles, tutorials, resources, and tools. Many visitors interested in Grid computing are asking some very basic questions: What do we do with all of this stuff? Where do we start? How do the pieces fit together? What comes next? This page provides an overview for readers who want to learn about Grid computing but don’t know where to start. It places the basics of Grid computing into their proper context and ties together relevant developerWorks articles, tutorials, and tips.
Start Here to Learn about Grid Computing
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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A better place to start will be globus (www.globus.org). thats what ibm uses for its grid toolbox, and is funded by ibm, microsoft, hp etc.
What about Oracle news release 10g ? Is this a new face for grid computing ? We are in Recife-Brazil and starting a research with grid and now we want to grow up ! We think that open source still the real way for those want more than make money for theses big companies. Hey! isn´t IBM suporting Globus ? Oh boy, but I sure they don’t gave anything for nothing. Let’s back to Oracle: Will be interesting if they gave for free, with research proposals of course, they new 10g. Some one knows a “Postgridsql” ?
After reading the article, what is the difference between Grid computing and such projects as SETI, Folding etc?
Apparently – in simple terms, all GRID computing is – is to distrubute processing over already existing computers that sit idle (e.g. your office computer at night).
SETI, Folding and all the rest are exactly what GRID computing is…
http://www.grid.org/about/gc/seti.htm
Actually, the way I understand it, the difference between grid computing and a more traditional cluster, is that a cluster will be made up of several computers which exist on the same network all working together, whereas a grid is made up from computers which exist on several different networks, perhaps from even all over the world. I guess you can think of a grid as a cluster of clusters maybe.
Actually, the way I understand it, the difference between grid computing and a more traditional cluster, is that a cluster will be made up of several computers which exist on the same network all working together, whereas a grid is made up from computers which exist on several different networks, perhaps from even all over the world.
I cluster can be apart of a GRID but not the sole force powering it (hence, it would not be a grid – just a cluster or supercomputer). From what I read, a GRID should be able to use the resources of computers independent of OS, processor etc. It really is quite simple, a GRID for example would be a software development company installing software on every developers computer so that at night – the unused computers could be used to compile a software build.
Well, ignore my cluster of clusters comment, and go with the first part. What I’m trying to get at, is that it has nothing to do with the computers sitting idle or not. If you read the article, that’s just one type of grid. Course they also say that the definition of a grid is kinda up in the air…but anyway.
By the way, check out Sun’s Grid Engine if you’re wanting to play around with building a grid. Runs on Linux and it’s open source.
thanks for the info