In-Depth
Grid Computing: The Basics
Grid computing—multiple heterogeneous systems seamlessly integrated as a single system—are now a business reality.
Grid computing enables the virtualization of distributed computing and data resources such as processing, network bandwidth and storage capacity to create a single system image, granting users and applications seamless access to vast IT capabilities. Just as an Internet user views a unified instance of content via the Web, a grid user essentially sees a single, large virtual computer.
At its core, grid computing is based on an open set of standards and protocols—e.g., Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA)—that enable communication across heterogeneous, geographically dispersed environments. With grid computing, organizations can optimize computing and data resources, pool them for large capacity workloads, share them across networks and enable collaboration.
Learn more about the benefits of grid computing at IBM's Grid computing center.