Grid computing takes collective advantage of the vast improvements in micro-processor speeds, optical communications, raw storage capacity, the World Wide Web, and the Internet that have occurred over the last five years. A set of standards and protocols are being developed that completely dis-aggregate current computer platforms and distribute them across a network as resources that can be called into action by any eligible user (person or machine) at any time. Grid computing is revolutionizing the way companies utilize information technology in business.

This book provides IT professionals with a clear, readable, and pragmatic overview to all aspects of grid computing technology, with hands-on guidelines for implementing a workable grid computing system. Beginning with a thorough history of the technology, the book then delves into grid architecture, desktop grids, data grids, Open Grid Services Architecture, grid programming techniques, and much more. The last section of the book is devoted to creating industry-specific grid computing applications.

KEY FEATURES

• Written by a top analyst with contributed chapters from major players in the industry
• Provides guidelines for IT managers and technologists interested in implementing

  grid computing technology

• Includes a CD-ROM with a grid demo, a grid programming source code toolkit, and a grid calculator for determining desktop resource power

On the CD-ROM

This CD-ROM contains tools you can use to get started with grid computing.

• CxC
  -- Engineered Intelligence, www.engineeredintelligence.com
  A CxC parallel computing development system
• XLR8 v1.2
  -- GridIron Software, www.gridironsoftware.com
  An application development tool and runtime infrastructure to develop, use and manage applications with the speed of distributed computing
• Grid Calculator
  -- United Devices, Inc., www.ud.com
  A calculator to determine the aggregate computational capacity of an enterprise IT infrastructure