grid computing Last modified: Tuesday, December 19, 2006
A form of networking. Unlike conventional networks that focus on communication among devices, grid computing harnesses unused processing cycles of all computers in a network for solving problems too intensive for any stand-alone machine. A well-known grid computing project is the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) @Home project, in which PC users worldwide donate unused processor cycles to help the search for signs of extraterrestrial life by analyzing signals coming from outer space. The project relies on individual users to volunteer to allow the project to harness the unused processing power of the user's computer. This method saves the project both money and resources. Grid computing does require special software that is unique to the computing project for which the grid is being used.
Grid Computing Planet   The latest news and information in grid computing, including feature articles and opinions, product reviews and links to grid computing resources. Internet Computing and the Emerging Grid An article from 2000 from Nature.com. The Anatomy of the Grid A comprehensive paper on grid computing. The Grid: The Next-Gen Internet? Researchers say the Grid is the future of collaborative problem-solving. Global Grid Forum A standard-setting effort that has attracted both commercial and non-profit interest. Navigating Around the Computing Grid ServerWatch explains some of the buzzwords and basic uses of grid computing, along with the reasons for its surge in popularity. The Globus Project The Globus Toolkit developed by USC's Information Sciences Institute and Argonne National Laboratory is becoming a de-facto standard for Grid computing. The Grid Computing Information Centre Aims to contribute to the development and advancement of technologies that enable us to access computing power and resources with the ease similar to electrical power. The Power of Utility Computing The emergence of a universal computing grid will create the need for a new breed of service provider -- a role that telecoms and hosting providers are well-suited to fill.

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