[ogsa-wg] Some more glossary terms

[Treadwell, Jem]

Hi,
 
On Monday's call we discussed definitions for data center, state and a combined definition of grid (form OGSA) and grid computing (from EGA).  The results:
 
Data center was agreed with only minor modification:

	A facility that houses critical computer systems and associated components. Data centers generally include environmental controls (air conditioning, fire suppression, etc.), backup power supplies, redundant network connections and high security. 
	 
	Larger enterprises may have multiple data centers, often geographically distant but connected by high-capacity network connections.  Conversely, in an outsourcing environment multiple enterprises may share resources housed in a single data center.

State: The definition I proposed in the working doc was considered to be OK but not satisfying, so Jay's on the hook to come up with a better one.
 
Grid, grid computing: My suggestion was to combine the very formal OGSA definition with the EGA's longer, bulleted description. The consensus was that the detail of the EGA definition was fine, but that we should try to reduce it to a shorter (non-bulleted) form. My attempt to do that is below.  I think I captured pretty much everything that was in the bullets, but I have *not* attempted to go beyond that.  If you have comments or suggestions, please try to avoid making it taller (column-inches do matter!). Also note that I didn't consider changing the first para, which is the original OGSA formal definition, and nobody on the call suggested that we should.
 
Here's what I have:

	A grid is a system that is concerned with the integration, virtualization, and management of services and resources in a distributed, heterogeneous environment that supports collections of users and resources (virtual organizations) across traditional administrative and organizational domains (real organizations).

	Less formally, a grid computing environment combines distributed pools of resources onto which applications or services may be dynamically provisioned and re-provisioned, to improve economy, efficiency, agility, performance, scaling, resilience and utilization. The contributed resources are often consolidated from numerous smaller pools, where they may have been under-utilized, and as a result grids tend to be heterogeneous.

	Grids offer great flexibility, as resources can be re-purposed or re‑provisioned in line with an organization’s changing goals.  They typically focus on services rather than components, and are built using architectural styles such as service-oriented architecture, which are disaggregated or distributed in nature and can leverage the properties of the available resources.  Key requirements for successful grid implementation and management include standardization of the interfaces of common components, and the use of standardized information and data models.

	Grid computing is related to, but subtly different from, utility computing.

Thanks: for those on holiday tomorrow, have a great one, and for those who aren't, have a great one too!
 
- Jem
________________________________

Jem Treadwell
Hewlett-Packard Company
6000 Irwin Road
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054	  	  	
Phone: 	856-638-6021	
Fax: 	856-638-6190	
E-mail:	 Jem.Treadwell at hp.com <mailto:Jem.Treadwell at hp.com> 	
 
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