Parallel and Distributed Systems
June 17th, 2009
University of Algarve
R.Neves, N. Mestre, F. Machado and J. Lopes

 Grid Computing
◦ Definitions
◦ Ian Foster’s Three-Point Checklist
◦ Quality of Service
 BOINC System
◦ Public Resource Computing
◦ Infrastructure
 Getting BOINC into Grid
◦ PRC versus Grid
◦ Solutions
 Extended BOINC System
◦ Needed changes
◦ Bridge Daemon
 References
 Q&A

 “A computational grid is a hardware and software
infrastructure that provides dependable, consistent, pervasive
and inexpensive access to high-end computational
[1]
capabilities.”
 “The problem that underlines the Grid concept is coordinated
resource sharing and problem solving in dynamic, multi-
[2]
institutional virtual organizations.”
 “Computational grid is the technology that enables resource
virtualization, on-demand provisioning and service (resource)
[3]
sharing between organizations.”

A grid is a system that[4]:
1. Coordinates resources that are not subject
to centralized control (…)
2. (…) using standard, open, general-purpose
protocols and interfaces (…)
3. (…) to deliver non-trivial quality of service.

 Advanced Resource Reservation
 Reservation Policies
 Agreement Protocol

What is it?

 On one hand:
◦ Allow a huge growth in terms of
connected nodes
◦ Approach the common people to
scientific projects

 On the other hand:
◦ Unreliability of the processed
results
◦ Uncertain processor time

 Common goal;
 Resource management and control;
 Reliability;
 Quality of Service.

 BOINC using Condor’s backfill mechanism;
 SuperLink Project;
 Lattice Project;
 Extended BOINC System.

 Server-side
◦ Communication system;
◦ Transitioner, Feeder and Validator Daemons;
 Client-side
◦ Handle WUs and Results to the Grid’s Resource
Broker instead of directly to the project server;

BOINC System Extended BOINC System

1. I. Foster, C. Kesselman, The Grid: Blueprint for a New Computing Infrastructure,
University of Michigan, U.S.A.: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 1999
2. I. Foster, C. Kesselman, S. Tuecke, The Anatomy of the Grid: Enabling Scalable Virtual
Organizations, International J. Supercomputer Applications, 2001
3. P. Plaszczak, R. Wellner, Grid computing: The Savvy Manager's Guide, U.S.A.:
Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann, 2005
4. I. Foster, What is the Grid? A Three Point Checklist, GRIDToday, July 20, 2002
5. R. J. Al-Ali, K. Amin, G. von Laszewski, O. F. Rana, D. W. Walker, M. Hategan, N.
Zaluzec, Analysis and Provision of QoS for Distributed Grid Applications, Kluwer
Academic Publishers, 2004
6. C. U. Søttrup, J. G. Pedersen, Developing Distributed Computing Solutions:
Combining Grid Computing and Public Computing, M. Sc. Thesis, Department of
Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, March 1, 2005
7. BOINC Documentation Project, Grid computing with BOINC,
http://boinc.berkeley.edu/trac/wiki/DesktopGrid, University of California, June 13,
2009

For more information, access our paper through:
http://www.deei.fct.ualg.pt/~nei/boinc-grid.pdf
Rodrigo Neves, a25067@ualg.pt
Nuno Mestre, a28997@ualg.pt
Francisco Machado, a28994@ualg.pt
João Lopes, a27981@ualg.pt