| Grid computing is all about using the untapped | | | | ALL the computers both big and small and derive |
| resources of computers connected to a network. | | | | computational efficiencies (think peer-to-peer |
| IBM perhaps defines it most succinctly: Grid | | | | networks); as the next logical step in providing a |
| computing is applying resources from many | | | | computational platform for Web Services; as a |
| computers in a network-at the same time-to a single | | | | business on demand or computing as a utility model |
| problem. The development of the World Wide Web | | | | which IBM and others are touting. All of the above |
| revolutionized the way we think about and access | | | | are in effect true. |
| information. We really don't think twice anymore | | | | Through a variety of different means and |
| about logging on to the web and pulling up | | | | technologies, computers will learn to share each |
| information on almost any topic imaginable. What the | | | | other's processors, storage and memory, much as |
| Web did for information, Grid computing aims to do | | | | they share communications and information today, |
| for computation. Grid computing is really the next | | | | and applications will take advantage of these |
| logical evolution of the Internet. | | | | resources. While we are far from realizing the full |
| The Internet began with TCP/IP and networking; | | | | effects that Grid computing will bring, it is upon us |
| then came communication with e-mail, followed by | | | | and there are both short-term and long-term |
| information sharing with the World Wide Web. Next | | | | ramifications for the enterprise. |
| will be the advent of grid computing, the sharing of | | | | The actual brains of the computers will be connected, |
| actual computer resources, such as memory, | | | | not just the arteries. This means that users will begin |
| storage, and processing power. It is almost mind | | | | to experience the Internet as a seamless |
| boggling to imagine the types of applications that | | | | computational universe. Software applications, |
| could be developed if access to distributed | | | | database sessions, and video and audio streams will |
| supercomputers, mass storage and vast memory | | | | be reborn as services that live in cyberspace. Once |
| were as straightforward as access to the web. So | | | | plugged into the grid, a desktop machine will draw |
| there are several ways of looking at Grid Computing: | | | | computational power from all the other machines in |
| as a way to connect the computational power of all | | | | the grid. The Internet itself will become a computing |
| the big computers together and give access to | | | | platform. Grid computing is the next logical step for |
| companies and academia alike; as a way to connect | | | | the Internet to take. |