[sldev] [SVC] What is a Grid? (Searching for a hard definition)

[Joshua Bell]

Even within SL there are some different uses of "grid". One that springs 
to mind is "Main Grid" vs. "Teen Grid". These would be considered the 
same "grid" via Q's definition below as they are implemented on the same 
physical hardware and core services (i.e. "agni"). The intent, however, 
is that they are not causally connected (i.e. nothing on one can affect 
another).

Kent Quirk (Q Linden) wrote:
> And whether or not SL strictly fits some external definition of "grid 
> computing", we use the term Grid within Second Life, which is what the 
> OP was asking for.
>
> In that context, the Second Life grid is the integrated system that 
> provides a networked collection of servers, some of which are 
> simulators that implement our presentation of land. Those are arranged 
> in the form of a rectangular mesh (but yes, it would be possible to 
> have a "grid" with only one simulator in it). In addition, the SL grid 
> provides a set of other services, including presence, inventory 
> management, and asset store, that integrate with but are independent 
> of the simulators.
>
>     Q
>
>
>
> On Feb 5, 2009, at 11:55 AM, Escort DeFarge wrote:
>
>> I strongly support LL's decision to favor REST over WSDL (for many, 
>> many reasons).
>>
>> For sure, OGSA is definitely only one type of grid, but otoh that 
>> does not make SL a "grid computing environment".
>>
>> Wikipedia's Grid Computing entry has loosened considerably over the 
>> last 3-4 years. To my mind/taste, when defining "grid computing", the 
>> tighter and clearer definition stated in the short paper "What is the 
>> Grid" (http://www-fp.mcs.anl.gov/~foster/Articles/WhatIsTheGrid.pdf) 
>> remains a much more helpful and accurate definition. Of the three 
>> checkpoints in that definition only (3) probably counts for SL's 
>> current grid architecture, since the LL grid has resources under 
>> central control (1), and is not open (2). (Though I note that the AWG 
>> is definitely moving SL closer to this definition).
>>
>> For most, I sure this is all an exercise in hair-splitting, but I 
>> find it hard to state that SL is a grid computing environment (as 
>> yet) but rather I would say that it is an highly distributed system 
>> that includes a grid.
>>
>> /esc
>>
>>
>> Meadhbh Hamrick (Infinity) wrote:
>>> right. i think we're less in the WSDL camp and more in the REST 
>>> camp, so we might say that OGSA is a _type_ of a grid, but that we 
>>> adhere more to something like what's defined in 
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_computing with REST semantics 
>>> layered on top of our services.
>>>
>>> On Feb 4, 2009, at 9:12 PM, Escort DeFarge wrote:
>>>
>>>> For an accurate definition -- start here...
>>>>
>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Grid_Services_Architecture
>>>>
>>>> ...the SL architecture doesn't actually conform to a strict 
>>>> definition of "grid computing" as you'll soon see. However, the SL 
>>>> grid does have one big thing going for it -- it works (mostly).
>>>>
>>>> /esc
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