What is grid computing? Grid computing, also known as distributive computing, is a way for incredibly large amounts of data to be spread over multiple network computers for analysis. By using either dedicated computers or the unused idle time and resources on volunteer computers, a project that might take hundreds of years can be completed in a few months. CERN’s new dedicated internet called The Grid, will allow the data collected from the Large Haldron Collider(LHC) to be distributed over networked academic and research facility computers in countries around the world.

The LHC, particle accelerator, will be used to conduct a variety of physics experiments. The experiments range from recreating the environment that existed just after the Big Bang to searching for Higgs boson (what gives mass to particles). These experiments will produce about 15 million gigabytes of data per year. No single computer or single site research center can analyze all of the projected data. So CERN, where the LHC resides, has constructed a dedicated fiber optic network that is 10,000 times faster than any current broadband internet speeds. 50,000 servers (projected to reach 200,000 servers in two years) are spread across the globe. This private internet will allow teams of physicists world wide to analyze and use the data.

Distributive computing has been around since the 1990s. The process gained notoriety when distributive.net in 1997, and SETI@home in 1999 began using volunteer computers as part of grid computing. Since then companies, universities and research facilities have used grid computing for a variety of projects. The volunteer projects range from searching for cures for malaria, cancer and AIDS; determining the range and effects of climate change; searching for extraterrestrial life in space; and solving intricate chess moves.

Although much of the data processing from LHC experiments will use CERN’s new dedicated internet grid, some data surrounding the LHC project has already been processed through voluntary grid computing. LHC@home like SETI@home distributed information that needed to be analyzed for the planning, and building of the LHC across personal computers that donated unused resources to the project.

World Community Grid provides the necessary software and updates for people who want to volunteer their personal computers. Through its website and software, World Community Grid (WCG) provides management of computer resources, an online community, and connections to various projects like SETI@home or LHC@home. The software communicates over the internet with the project host to download “units” to be analyzed by the volunteer computer. The result is then uploaded to the project host.

Although The Grid is currently only being used by select universities and researchers, the hope is that commercial internet providers will be able to either tap into The Grid in the future, or build a high speed equivalent of their own. The increased speed would allow surfing and downloading at lightening speed, along with faster downloads of volunteer projects.

Since computers continue to improve in areas of processing power and memory, volunteering spare computer time and processing power has gotten easier. I have been a grid volunteer since the early part of this decade. I am a member of the WCG and and have volunteered unused computer time and processing power to several projects including LHC@home. Because WCG monitors the projects and downloads closely, running the units is virus free. This is one of the easiest and safest ways to volunteer and improve life on this planet at the same time. Even gamers have to sleep sometime and why not use that time for something productive?

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Entry was posted on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 at 1:57 am under Internet, technology.