| In Foster (1998), the Grid concept is defined as the controlled and coordinated resource sharing and problem solving in dynamic, multi-institutional virtual organizations . This sharing of resources, ranging from simple file transfers to complex and collaborative problem solving, is accomplished within controlled and well-defined conditions and policies. The dynamic grouping of individuals, multiple groups, or organizations that defined the conditions and rules for sharing are called virtual organizations . In this chapter, we will define the "grid problem," the core concepts of a "virtual organization," and the architecture defined to solve the "grid problem." The Virtual Organization Concept in Grid Computing Is Key One of the significant operational concepts in Grid Computing is the notion of the virtual organization . This involves the dynamic computation-oriented task of defining groupings of individuals, such as multiple groups or organizations. Although this is perhaps simple to understand, in theory, it remains complex across several dimensions. The complexities involved in this dynamic assembly revolve around identifying and bringing in those humans that initially defined the conditions in order to instantiate the grid. For instance, automated consideration of the rules, the policies, and the specific conditions affecting operations in the grid are, hence, the generating force for processing and sharing the information with those individuals in any virtual organization of a grid. The simplest way of thinking about this advanced Grid Computing concept is captured in the term virtual organizations . This type of computation-oriented grouping serves as the basis for identifying and managing the grid computer groups, associated with any particular grid community of end users. |
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