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WhatIsGridComputing


What is Grid computing?

Grid computing is about combining the computer power of a number of computers for one application. The computers are owned by differnt organisations. Depending on the computers you combine you get a different type of Grid:

- If you combine supercomputers, you get a supercomputer Grid. In Europe DEISA supports such a supercomputer Grid. The supercomputers belong to different supercomputer centres all over Europe. About a dozen supercomnputer centres are connected in DEISA, with a total of about 20.000 processors. - If you combine clusters, or servers, you get a cluster Grid, or more general a Service Grid. The clusters/servers belong to universities and research centres. in EGEE about 250 of such centres are connected, alll of Europe. In total about 60.000 processors are connected. - In Desktop Grids, personal computers, desktops and laptops are connected. These are owned by individual persons or companies, also all over Europe. There are several Desktop Grids in Europe, such as SZTAKI desktop Grid, Fundycet Grid, AlmereGrid, that can each have as much as 25.000 indivudials with 50.000 computers connected.

It is the goal of the EDGeS project to interconnect the Desktop Grids and the Desktop Grids with Service Grids.