The Grid is a rapidly emerging and expanding technology that allows geographically distributed resources (CPU cycles, data storage, sensors, visualization devices, and a wide variety of Internet-ready instruments), which are under distinct control, to be linked together in a transparent fashion. The power of the Grid lies not only in the aggregate computing power, data storage, and network bandwidth that can readily be brought to bear on a particular problem, but on its ease of use.
Grids are now a viable solution to certain computationally- and data-intensive computing problems for the following reasons: (a) The Internet is reasonably mature and able to serve as fundamental infrastructure. (b) Network bandwidth has increased to the point of being able to provide efficient and reliable services. (c) Storage capacity has now reached commodity levels. (d) Many instruments are Internet-aware. (e) Clusters, supercomputers, storage and visualization devices are becoming more easily accessible. (f) Applications have been parallelized.
CCR staff, led by Steve Gallo and Jon Bednasz, focus on enabling faculty led research groups to take full advantage of the resources available on the grid. In addition to maintaining the underlying grid infrastructure at CCR, this typically involves educating users on using the grid and assisting them with the modification of their applications to make use of the grid, and the development of grid enabled portals for various applications. CCR also serves as the OSG support center for the NYSGRID Virtual Organization supporting science and engineering applications.
CCR staff members actively participate in several prominent grids including the Open Science Grid (OSG) and the New York State Grid (NYSGRID). As part of their ongoing efforts to enable scientific discovery and foster collaborations, CCR staff members focus on making the grid easy for users to access. They actively participate in the investigation of grid resource discovery tools as well as collaborate with the Cyberinfrastructure Laboratory at UB, the Open Science Grid, and New York State Grid. CCR staff members also assist other institutions with the task of grid-enabling their resources.