Mini-Grids: Effective Test-Beds for GRID Application

Abstract

We describe a computing environment that we call a “mini- GRID”. This represents a hetereogeneous group of resources for computation, data storage, archival and visualization which can be connected via private or public networks to other resources (called “guest systems”) on a temporary basis as required. The mini-GRID displays the hetero- geneity and some of the complexity of a full computational GRID, but in a more limited environment and can be considered to be under the control of a few organisations (or even a single organisation) making non- technical organisational issues less problematic. As such, the mini-GRID provides a flexible and controllable, but realistic test-bed for trialling GRID applications, particularly with regard to issues such as accounting and resource brokering. However, its heterogeneity, the size and comple- xity of the architectures involved, and its integral connection with local, national and super-national networks, prevent it from being considered as a cluster of workstations.