MCA 405.1: Grid and Cluster Computing

Lectures: 4 Periods/Week Sessional Marks: 30
University Exam: 3 Hours University Examination Marks: 70


UNIT-I
Introduction
The Data Centre, the Grid and the Distributed / High Performance Computing, Cluster Computing and Grid Computing, Metacomputing – the Precursor of Grid Computing, Scientific, Business and e-Governance Grids, Web Services and Grid Computing, Business Computing and the Grid – a Potential Win – win Situation, e-Governance and the Grid.
Technologies and Architectures for Grid Computing
Clustering and Grid Computing, Issues in Data Grids, Key Functional Requirements in Grid Computing, Standards for Grid Computing, Recent Technological Trends in Large Data Grids
World Wide Grid Computing Activities, Organizations and Projects
Standard Origanizations, Organizations Developing Grid Computing Tool Kits, Framework, and Middleware, Grid Projects and Organizations Building and Using Grid Based Solutions, Commercial Organizations Building and Using Grid Based Solutions.

UNIT-II
Web Services and the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
History and Background, Service Oriented Architecture, How a Web Service Works, SOAP and WSDL, Description, Creating Web Services, Server Side.
OGSA and WSRF
OGSA for Resource Distribution, Stateful Web Services in OGSA, WSRF (Web Services Resource Framework), Resource Approach to Stateful Services, WSRF Specification.
Globus Toolkit
History of Globus Toolkit, Versions of Globus Toolkit, Applications of GT4-Cases, GT4-Approaches and Benefits, Infrastructure Management, Monitoring and Discovery, Security, Data, Choreography and Coordination, Main Features of GT4 Functionality – a Summary, GT4 Architecture, GT4 Command Line Programs, GT4 Containers
The Grid and the Databases
Issues in Database Integration with the Grid, The Requirements of a Grid-enabled Database, Storage Request Broker (SRB), How to Integrate the Databases with the Grid?, The Architecture of OGSA-DAI for Offering Grid Database Services

UNIT-III
What is Cluster Computing?
Approaches to Parallel Computing, How to Achieve Low Cost Parallel Computing through Clusters, Definition and Architecture of a Cluster, What is the Functionality a Cluster can Offer? Categories of Clusters
Cluster Middleware : An Introduction
Levels and Layers of Single System Image (SSI), Cluster Middleware Design Objectives, Resource Management and Scheduling, Cluster Programming Environment and Tools
Early Cluster Architectures and High Throughput Computing Clusters
Early Cluster Architectures, High Throughput Computing Clusters, Condor.
Networking, Protocols & I/O for Clusters
Networks and Inter-connection/Switching Devices, Design Issues in Interconnection Networking/Switching, Design Architecture-General Principles and Trade-offs, HiPPI, ATM (Asynchronous Transmission Mode), Myrinet, Memory Channel (MC), Gigabit Ethernet

UNIT-IV
Setting Up and Administering a Cluster
How to Set Up a Simple Cluster?, Design Considerations for the Front End of a Cluster, Setting Up Nodes, Clusters of Clusters or Metaclusters, System Monitoring, Directory Services Inside the Clusters & DCE, Global Clocks Sync, Administering Heterogeneous Clusters
Cluster Technology for High Availability
Highly Available Clusters, High Availability Parallel Computing, Mission Critical (or Business Critical or Business Continuity) Applications, Types of Failures and Errors, Cluster Architectures and Configurations for High Availability, Faults and Error Detection, Failure Recovery, Failover/Recovery Clusters
Load Sharing and Load Balancing
Load Sharing and Load Balancing, Strategies for Load Balancing, Modelling Parameters
Distributed Shared Memory
Issues in DSM, Write Synchroni- zation for Data Consistency, Double Faulting, Application/Type Specific Consistency, Issues in Network Performance in DSM

Text Books

  1. C.S.R.Prabhu – “Grid and Cluster Computing”-PHI(2008)
    Chapters: 1 to 13, 16, 17.
Reference Books
Jankiram, “Grid Computing Models : A Research Monograph”, TMH (2005)