Grid Basics

The term Grid or Grid Computing implies different technologies, markets and solutions to different people. The meanings associated with the terms range from cluster computing, High Performance Computing (HPC), utility computing, peer-to-peer computing to specific new types of infrastructure. In order to clarify the position, the aim of this chapter is to define and explain Grid Computing. Thereby, the following aspects will be considered Definition of Grid Computing Explanation of Grid Computing Architectures Overview of basic functionalities and components of Grid Computing Overview of advantages and risks associated with Grid Computing Classification of Grids Overview of trends related to Grid Computing such as Service-oriented Computing (SOC), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and Cloud Computing.