Grid Computing – An Easy Guide For Beginners in 2021

Introduction

Grid computing definition is a group of computers that work in a single network to perform larger tasks that are not possible using single computers. The duties include analyzing the data and similar things. The computers, which are often in different geographical locations, can work on the same task without making any difference in work quality.

1. What is Grid Computing
2. Types of Grids
3. Advantages of Grid Computing
4. The Disadvantage of Grid computing
5. Roles of Grid Computing Organizations
6. Grid architecture
7. Uses of Grid Computing

1) What is Grid Computing

How does it work?

Grid computing runs on software that is designed especially for a particular task. This software is installed on all the computers of the network. In this entire process, the software works as a manager and takes control of the tasks carried out at different locations yet targeting a common mission. The software acts by assigning the subtask to each computer individually so that work gets completed faster and the quality stays intact because attention is given separately on smaller portions of the task.

Once the subtasks are completed, the outputs received by the individual computers are gathered and taken together to complete the task. The software that manages the entire procedure also ensures that all the computers can communicate with each other and share the outputs or the results when they finish their tasks. 

2) Types of Grids

There are various types of grid computing. Let us take a look at them in brief:

• Computational grid:  This is a type of grid that acts as a mediator of many computers in a given network to solve one single problem at a time.
• Data grid: The grid that deals with the sharing and managing the distributed data in a controlled manner is term as a data grid.
• Collaborative grid: Such types of grids helps in solving collective problems.
• Manuscript grid: These are the type of grids that work when the task is either in the form of images or continuous blocks.
• Modular grid: Modular grids are useful when volume does not provide a sole solution to the problems.

3) Advantages of Grid Computing

The advantages of grid computing are as follows:

• Less time: Many computers are working simultaneously for the same task, making sure that the job gets completed in much lesser time. Grid computing sales, time energy, and money.
• Better use: Grid computing is also capable of making better use of the hardware that already exists. 
• Easy collaboration: Grid computing has also proved to be useful in combining with other organizations.

4) The Disadvantage of Grid computing

The disadvantages of grid computing are as follows:

• Non-interactive: Though assigning the task to individual computers in the network makes the job finished earlier, there is no scope of interaction left. In case of a scheme where it needs different subject matter experts to complete; after the work is assigned to them, they tend to work separately without any direct interaction with each other, which means the final result, even if it requires any relation among all the experts, would lack that part.
• Initiates learning curve: Grid computing has been a procedure that tends to trigger a learning curve that might not prove much useful for the task.
• Evolves software: Along with all the advantages it brings along, grid computing also evolves grid software and the standard.

5) Roles of Grid Computing Organizations

Based on the functional role they play, grid computing organizations have the following functions to play:

• Middleware: grid computing organizations act as a middleware solution between the client and the company. Such companies prove beneficial for both parties because the client gets the work done early, and the company saves energy, resources, and money.
• Commercial purposes: Grid computing organizations adopt grids concepts to be used in commercial purposes for various companies.
• Guidelines for practices: The grid computing organizations involved in developing the grids’ standards also enable promoting and establishing the procedures for the same for training.
• All in one solution: The organizations provide the answers to the computing solving, data, and the requirements of the network.

6) Grid architecture

We can describe grid architecture using the following points:

It refers to the way the entire procedure with which the grid has been designed.

These can be described in terms of various layers that perform a common function. These layers are:

• The lowest layer refers to the layer of the network.
• Resource layer, which does above the network layer.
• The middle layer is responsible for the tools that make various elements.
• The top layer is the layer of the applications.

7) Uses of Grid Computing

Grid computing plays a very important role when a task requires more than one expert to complete the job. After working individually on their area of expertise, the experts can collect the data, note down their findings, and gather them to take out the final results. Here are a few grid computing examples where grid computing is used:

1. Movie: The film industry has been using the process of grid computing for a long time now. Grid computing not only helps in special effects in the films but also ensures faster production.
2. Gaming: The gaming industry also uses grid computing techniques in applications like in-game cut scenes, multiplayer game hosting, and much more.
3. Life sciences: Life sciences make use of grid computing for data calculation and analysis.
4. Engineering and design: Grid computing has been very useful in engineering and designing in analyzing real-time data, experimenting with new models and methods, and verifying the existing models.
5. Government: Government has been using the procedures involved in grid computing for various defence and safety reasons of the country.
6. Supercomputing: It is another such area where grid computing has performed exceptionally well and flourishes even more. Various fields where grid computing plays an important role are:
7. Distributed Supercomputing
8. High-throughput Supercomputing
9. On-demand Supercomputing
10. Data-intensive Supercomputing
11. Collaborative Supercomputing

Conclusion

Grid computing is a procedure that has proved to be a boon for various sectors in the industry. It makes the work easier and gets it completed faster and ensures that work can be done by different individuals, even from remote locations. This has even led to an increase in the quality of contents and data.

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