What do you understand by Grid Computing?
Grid computing is defined as a system connecting many computer nodes into a distributed architecture to deliver the computing resources necessary to address business challenges. The nodes can be servers or personal computers that are dispersed over several geographical locations and only loosely connected to one another via the internet or other networks. In a grid computing environment, individual tasks that are part of a larger project are run using the resources that are accessible to each node.
A virtual supercomputer made up of distributed processing nodes can be built using the architecture offered by grid computing. The majority of grid computing projects are not time-dependent, and large projects are frequently spread across several different continents and nations. Cycle-scavenging is one of the common practices in grid computing systems that use a node's idle resources to complete tasks connected to the grid. These processes could continue for several weeks or even longer.
How does Grid Computing differ from other environments?
Grid computing and virtual supercomputing are commonly used interchangeably but the two technologies actually differ significantly from each other. A large number of processors working in parallel in a small space, such as a specialized data center, make up a supercomputer. A grid environment is usually distributed throughout the globe. Instead of separately functioning nodes, supercomputers run highly connected applications over high-speed networks. On the other hand, grid systems often communicate over internet connections from geographically distant sites and transmit little to no data between nodes. Another type of distributed computing referred to as cloud computing is different from grid computing. Cloud computing takes place in the middle between supercomputing and grid computing.
Grid environments are substantially less granular than cloud settings, which are better able to manage time-dependent workloads. On the contrary, with thousands of widely dispersed nodes that take part in a grid network, and cloud resources are usually restricted to a small number of sites, despite being geographically spread.
What are the uses of Grid Computing?
Many private & government organizations, educational institutions, and commercial enterprises use grid computing to address modern-day business challenges. A variety of projects, including genetic research, drug-candidate matching, and government safety programs can benefit from the computational capacity that grid systems can provide.
Grid computing can also be used to model financial risks, track seismic activity, or assess weather trends, among many other forms of analytics. Additionally, grid computing can play an essential role in pervasive computing where smart devices permeate an environment without keeping users directly informed.