a Grid Computing System - Utopia

1. Introduction
It is designed for wide area networks and it supports a variety of programming languages, such
as C++, Fortran, Mentat, Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) and Message Passing Interface (MPI).
Though it is claimed to be scalable it is platform dependent on the UNIX platform.
1.2.2. GLOBE
GLOBE [15] is a Java-based grid computing middleware developed at Vrije University, Nether-
lands. Like Legion, it provides a single address space for nodes to use as a distributed shared
memory. Unlike Legion, however, GLOBE nodes keep a local object that functions as a represen-
tative of the remote object in its local physical memory. The GLOBE system does not only allow
sharing of computational alone, but it allows the sharing of any resource.
1.2.3. Globus
The Globus [4, 14] project at Argonne National Lab focuses on building a toolkit, a middleware,
for building grid computing systems. It provides several basic lower-level services that simplify
the design of higher level services that serves as a meta computer. These services include naming
services, security, and resource management.
Globus is the most well-known grid middleware available today. Compared to Globus, even
though is much more lighter, ALiCE has some definitely advantages, like platform independence,
ease of use and administration, better control over resources. ALiCE also targets more the home
user than the large systems that Globus targets.
1.2.4. Condor
Condor [17], developed at University of Wisconsin, is a grid computing system used harness the
idle cycles of computers residing in an Intranet. Condor provides a set of libraries that a C program
can link to. Through this library, the program have access to check pointing and remote system
call mechanisms. Condor supports job migration and quality of service specifications by allowing
the users to specify a list of preferences and requirements. Requirements specify the minimum
resource needed to execute the job whereas preferences specify the ideal amount of resources that
the job would want to run on. Despite the tremendous advantage that a Condor system can provide,
it is limited to NT and UNIX platforms only.
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