Seminar by Prof. V. Rajaraman
Prof. V Rajaraman
Supercomputer Education and Research Centre
IISc Bangalore
Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Time: 1530
Venue: CS 101
Abstract:
A computing utility is a distributed set of interconnected computers, secondary stores and application software, which is accessible to any customer, anytime, anywhere on payment of specified charges. It is an infrastructure similar to a power utility. Users of the utility will have a specially designed, wireless, mobile access device to access the utility to run their applications on a pay-for-use basis. The most important feature of this utility will be assured quality of service and consultancy help on-line, while using sophisticated application programs. It will also provide disaster recovery and if needed business process continuity. Technology is ripe to design and establish such a utility and it is expected that in the coming five years this will become a reality. In this paper we propose a layered architecture for a computing utility consisting of (from the top to bottom), a customer access layer, service brokering layer, resource management layer, access security layer, connectivity layer and the physical resources layer. We describe the functions of each of these layers. We also point out the essential differences between grid computing, enterprise grid and a computing utility. Many of the standards evolved by the researchers in grid computing and enterprise grid initiative will be useful in designing and implementing a computing utility.
About the Speaker:
One of the pioneers in the Computer Science and Engineering research and teaching in India, and one of the founding members of the Department of Computer Science & Engg. at IIT Kanpur Professor V. Rajaraman does not need much introduction at our institute. He has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Bhatnagar award (1976) and the Padma Bhushan (1988).