11.5 NGI Grids

11.5.1 Grid Fundamentals

A Grid is a continuous and persistent national computing infrastructure that enables distributed research by teams of scientists. A core component in the NGI Program, 21st century grids integrate visualization environments, high-performance computers, massive databases, and remote instrumentation into broadband mesh networks. Grid technologies support the development of large-scale distributed metacomputing initiatives that support seamless access to massive terabyte and petabyte datasets, scientific collaboratories, and distributed computational resources. Formed by consortia of educational institutions, research centers, and/or regional and national government agencies, grids process large numbers of independent transactions in distributed computing environments and address problems associated with collecting, managing, and processing vast amounts of voice, video, and data.

Typically, distributed over wide areas, grids enable implementation of complex scientific simulations and development of computational infrastructures and interactive VR tele-immersive environments. In addition, grids provision access to vast data archives maintained in massive digital storage repositories, sophisticated computational resources, and toolsets for resolving complex problems across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including high-energy physics, chemistry, astronomy, the life sciences, climatology, genetics, and space exploration.

11.5.2 Grid Implementations