The Globus toolkit is a set of software tools that enabling users to build computational grids and grid-based applications. It consists of the following components:
Grid Security Infrastructure (GSI) enables secure authentication and communication over an open network. GSI provides single sign-on capability --- the means that a user needs only to “log into a Grid” once and have any subsequent authentication handled automatically by Globus based on delegated credentials. GSI is based on public key encryption, X.509 certificates, and the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) communication protocol. Extensions to these standards have been added in order to implement single sign-on and delegation.
The Globus Resource Allocation Manager (GRAM) processes the requests for resources for remote application execution, allocates the required resources, and manages the active jobs. It also returns updated information regarding the capabilities and availability of the computing resources to the Metacomputing Directory Service (MDS). GRAM provides an API for submitting and canceling a job request, as well as checking the status of a submitted job. The specifications are written by the user in the Resource Specification Language (RSL), and is processed by GRAM as part of the job request.
The Monitoring and Discovery Service (MDS) is the information services component of the Globus Toolkit. It enables a user to ask for information about the state of resources he or she are planning to use.
The Data Grid Effort attempts to identify, prototype, and evaluate the key technologies required to support data grids for scientific and engineering collaborations. GridFTP provides efficient, reliable and secure data transfer, while other data Grid efforts focus on replica cataloguing and management.
The Globus Toolkit is an open architecture, and is available as open source software. It is used by many projects and developers around the world. A growing number of companies have committed to supporting this open source activity by (for example) porting the software to their platforms or by other means. The Toolkit continues to evolve as a result of user feedback and ongoing research and development.
The Globus Toolkit is available for download. Binary versions are available for a variety of platforms. For user convenience, client and server versions of the toolkit can be installed separately. Information on using Globus in a Firewall environment can be found in the Globus Firewall Requirements.
Questions about Globus should be addressed to Kate Keahey of ANL at keahey@mcs.anl.gov.
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