Grid computing is a virtual distributed computing environment in which an organization can transparently integrate, streamline, and share dispersed groups of hosts, servers, storage systems, data, and networks into one synergistic system. Long used to solve large-scale problems in science and engineering, grid computing is now beginning to offer significant efficiencies and savings to the commercial world, including financial services operations.

A Networking Approach to Grid Computing explores the practical advantages of grid computing and explains what is needed in order to migrate successfully to this new computing paradigm and exploit the business opportunities afforded by grid computing.

This book offers the knowledge and skills needed to architect and deploy a grid computing environment that contributes directly to key business goals, including:

• The benefits of grid computing and the status of the technology
• Standards supporting grid computing including OGSI and OGSA
• Deployment and management of computing grids
• The economics of grid systems
• Communication systems for local, national, and global grids

Familiarizing readers with the services, reference architectures, storage, and software necessary for successful implementation of a grid system, A Networking Approach to Grid Computing shows how to set up an organization's grid environment faster, easier, and at a lower cost than its competitors.

• Explores practical advantages of Grid Computing and what is needed by an organization to migrate to this new computing paradigm
• This self-contained reference makes both the concepts and applications of grid computing clear and understandable to even non-technical managers
• Explains the underlying networking mechanism and answers such questions critical to the business enterprise as
  • "What is grid computing?"
  • "How widespread is its present/potential penetration?"
  • "Is it ready for prime time?"
  • "Are there firm standards?"
  • "Is it secure?"
  • "How do we bill this new product?" and
  • "How can we deploy it (at a macro level)?"