FIT3010

Grid computing ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Dr Asad Khan

Offered:
Not offered in 2006.

Synopsis: Contemporary computers grids provide means to implement on-demand computing. These grids can also provide a seamless (web-like) access to a variety of networked resources, e.g. large data stores and information repositories, expensive instruments, high-speed links, sensors networks, and multimedia services for a wide range of applications. Topics covered include: Computational and service-oriented grids. LVS and Beowulf Clusters. Gridservices, Webservices, WSDL, HPC Portals, Home Grids, and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks. Grid applications.

Objectives: Discuss some of the enabling technologies e.g. high-speed links and storage area networks for building computer grids. Explain the use of some of the grid computing and clustering middleware used to implement virtual super computers. Explain programing toolkits such as Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) and Message Passing Interface (MPI) for writing parallel computer applications. Explain HPC Portals, peer-to-peer (P2P) networking and semantic grids. Elaborate some of the significant grid computing areas of application e.g. Bio-Technology, eHealth and eMedicine, Finance, and Computer Networks. Install and configure a small computer grid using Globus toolkit or a similar middleware. Develop small, showcase applications e.g. a parallel protein matching algorithm, or a transient webserver application using the grid services. Extend the grid and test these applications. Students learn to work on their projects in groups and gain experience in team work and inter-personal communications.

Assessment: assignments: 30%, labwork: 10%, final examination: 60%

Contact Hours: Lecture: 2 hours/week. Tutorial: 2 hours/week.

Prerequisites: FIT1002