Virtual Computing Grid Using Resource Pooling

Cluster and grid computing are becoming very popular, particularly for scientific and engineering applications. Higher bandwidth of computer networks has further boosted development of cluster computing. Local and geographically dispersed deployment of computing resources is the most prominent differentiating issue between a cluster and grid computing based setups. Cluster necessarily requires deployment of multiple nodes at a single location connected via a high speed switch, while grid computing is based on access to remote computing resources, which may be a cluster. Integrating software with multi-layer integration has been the main thrust of research and development in the field of cluster and grid computing. In this paper a novel idea of building a virtual grid over a local area network, deploying resources by pooling has been suggested. The system uses one monitoring server to keep track of various parameters pertaining to the pooled resources and tasks deployed on the system. Software module for integrating the pooled resource has been developed and a prototype model of virtual computing grid using resource pooling (VCGuRP) has been deployed. The paper describes various design and implementation details of the system and also discusses performance issues and their evaluation.