| As with autonomic computing, grid computing is based on an open set of standards and protocols that enable communication across heterogeneous, geographically dispersed environments in a seamless fashion. As we have already identified in Chapter 9, the importance of open standards for new technologies, such as autonomic computing and grids, cannot be overemphasized. Grid computing is open standards-based technology. It uses SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), a standard for establishing the ground rules of communication interfaces; WSDL (Web Services Description Language), a standard to describe the services used in the network; and XML (Extensible Markup Language) for the common format/syntax language for sharing information. Together these standards, interfaces, and formats enable application data and content to be easily shared in a grid that is comprised of cooperative, yet disparate systems. There are four standards bodies creating open standards for grid computing: -
Global Grid Forum (GGF) The GGF is a community of 5000+ individual researchers and practitioners working on distributed computing, or "grid" technologies. GGF's primary objective is to "promote and support the development, deployment, and implementation of Grid technologies and applications via the creation and documentation of "best practices"—technical specifications, user experiences, and implementation guidelines. For the latest information see their Web site at http://www.ggf.org/home.php?div=about. -
Open Grid Services Architectures The purpose of the OGSA Working Group is to achieve an integrated approach to future OGSA service development via the documentation of requirements, functionality, priorities, and interrelationships for OGSA services. Topic areas that expect to scope early are a common resource model and service domain mechanisms. The output of this group will be an OGSA architecture roadmap document that defines, scopes, and outlines requirements for key services. It is expected that the development of detailed specifications for specific services will occur in other groups (existing or new). For the latest information see their Web site: https://forge.gridforum.org/projects/ogsa-wg. -
Open Grid Services Infrastructure (OSGI) The objective of the OGSI Working Group is to review and refine the OGSI specification and other documents that derive from this specification, including technical specifications related to OSGA infrastructure and supporting informational documents. The OGSA defines the mechanisms for creating; managing and exchanging information among entities called Grid Services. For the latest version of the specification, see their Web site: http://www.gridforum.org/ogsi-wg/. -
Common Resource Model (CRM) The draft CRM specification proposes a model of manageability for manageable resources. Manageability defines information that is useful for managing a resource. Manageability is those aspects of a resource that support management specifically through instrumentation of the resource to allow management tools to interact with the resource. Management is the active process of monitoring, modifying, and making decisions about a resource. Management also includes the capabilities that use manageability information to perform activities or tasks associated with managing IT resources. The draft CRM specification describes how the management interface of the manageable resources is exposed through Web services. For the latest version of the specification, see their Web site: http://www.gridforum.org/Meetings/ggf7/BOFS/CRM%20Working%20Group%20Home%20for%20BOF1.htm. |
