TABLE OF CONTENTS In this first chapter we will provide a brief introduction to Grid computing. This is not meant to be a comprehensive introduction, and our goal is for you to get a general feeling of what Grid computing is. This will allow you to better understand the relevance of OGSA and WSRF in the Grid universe (OGSA and WSRF are introduced in the following chapters). If you are already Grid-savvy, you can safely skip this chapter. If you are new to Grid computing and want to read more, we have included a list of "must-read" references at the end of the chapter. If you are a complete newcomer, then we highly recommend The Grid Caf [7], a website that provides a gentle and didactic introduction to Grid computing.
Although we could start by giving you a textbook definition, we find that it is usually easier to grasp what Grid computing is by first looking at a specific computational challenge and seeing how it can be solved using Grid computing. Don't worry, later on we will also give you a textbook definition to quote at conferences, papers, and dinner parties.
The example we have chosen is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) being built in CERN (Geneva, Switzerland), the world's largest particle physics laboratory. The LHC is a particle accelerator and collider with...
