SCI: ITR-(NHS+ASE)-(int+dmc): Dependable Grids

University Of Virginia Main Campus, Charlottesville VA

Investigators

Abstract

This proposal addresses the area of dependable grids through an approach that allows for degradation and failure scenarios of primary grid services in the presence of alternate services restricted to covering selected classes of failures. These services will be developed and specified under a custom notation permitting dependability characteristics to be defined and shared. The resulting survivable grid implementation will be prototyped on a foundation of the OGSA-based framework using existing grid resources at UVA and NCSA. The work promises to forge new ground in the research and development of survivable and dependable services in distributed systems, specifically the emerging web service-based grid environment. By adopting a framework and methodology, and in large part through the creation of a new language for specifying and sharing dependability requirements and characteristics among services (called DESL), the concept of feasible and dependable grid services may come to fruition in prototype form. Such an accomplishment will have immediate impact on a class of critical infrastructure applications. In addition to strong graduate level student involvement, the project includes significant support for undergraduates and direct involvement of UVA's Office of Minority Programs.