In grid computing, a network of computers work together to perform the same task. The following are the components of a grid computing network.
Nodes
The computers or servers in a grid computing network are called nodes. Each node offers unused computing resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, to the grid network. At the same time, you can also use nodes to perform other unrelated tasks. In grid computing, there is no limit to the number of nodes. There are three main types of nodes: management nodes, provider nodes, and user nodes.
Grid middleware
Grid middleware is specialized software that connects computing resources in network operations to high-level applications. For example, it processes your request for additional computing power from a grid computing system.
It controls the sharing of available resources by users to prevent network computers from being overloaded. Grid middleware also provides security to prevent misuse of resources in grid computing.
Architecture of grid computing
The grid architecture represents the internal structure of grid computers. The following layers are widely represented in the grid node:
- The top layer consists of high-level programs, such as a program to perform predictive modeling;
- The second layer, also known as middleware, manages and allocates the resources requested by the programs;
- The third layer consists of available computer resources such as CPU, memory, and storage;
- The bottom layer allows the computer to connect to a networked computing network.
How does grid computing work?
The grid nodes and middleware work together to perform the grid computing task. In grid operations, the three main types of grid nodes play three different roles.
User node
A user node is a computer that requests resources that are shared by other computers in a grid computation. When a user node needs additional resources, the request is passed through middleware and delivered to other nodes in the grid computing system.
Provider node
In grid computing, nodes can often switch between being a user and a provider.
A provider node is a computer that shares its resources for network computing. When provider machines receive resource requests, they perform subtasks for user nodes, such as predicting stock prices for different markets. At the end of the process, middleware collects and compiles all the results to produce a global forecast.
Control node
The control node administers the network and manages the allocation of computing resources on the network. The middleware runs on the control node. When a user node requests a resource, the middleware checks for available resources and assigns the task to a specific provider node.