Grid Computing

This book is an essential resource for understanding Grid computing, covering design, security, and application deployment for students and educators alike.

This textbook is tailored for senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students, providing a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted and interconnected elements of Grid computing. Grid Computing covers essential topics such as system infrastructure design, Grid portals, job submission and scheduling, security measures, and various software tools and services. It serves as a practical guide for professors, offering classroom-tested strategies to effectively teach these concepts.

The book opens with an introduction to the concept of a Grid computing Web-based portal, followed by an exploration of job submission using command-line interfaces and job scheduling techniques. The author addresses general Internet security practices as well as specific security protocols tailored for Grid computing. Additionally, the advantages of graphical user interfaces are discussed, along with a visual workflow editor that simplifies the process of composing computational tasks through a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. The final chapter focuses on deploying applications within a Grid environment.

Beyond merely executing applications remotely, the Grid computing platform enhances the speed and fault tolerance of distributed computing resources. This practical text illustrates the process of resource discovery and emphasizes the design of system infrastructures and Grid portals. Supplemental resources are available on the author’s website, including instructional materials and software links for programming assignments, enabling students to engage with Grid computing concepts without needing direct access to a Grid platform.