Lehrgebiet Informationssysteme

FB Informatik

LG IS

AG DBIS

(C) AG DBIS

Comparative Evaluation of Implementations of Datagrids and Distributed File Systems

Peter Zimmer

Betreuer:

Dr. Franz-Josef Pfreundt (FhG ITWM)

Abstract

In this diploma thesis, the concepts of Distributed File Systems (DFSs) and datagrids are shown and compared against each other. After comparison of the concepts, a suitable implementation is selected. The selected implementation is installed in an existing grid enviroment, the Fraunhofer Resource Grid (FhRG). First, the concepts of datagrids and DFSs are shown. After introducing the basic concepts, they are compared against each other. As the datagrid concept is the more global concept, the comparison results in the selection of the datagrid concept to be installed within the FhRG.

After selecting the datagrid concept to be installed within the FhRG, a suitable datagrid software has to be found. This is done by evaluating the two freeware datagrid implementations, European Datagrid (EDG) and Storage Resource Broker (SRB). As no significant functional differences can be found, the SRB is selected with respect to non-functional aspects.

Before installation of the SRB within the FhRG, a concept of operation is developed to build a fast, reliable, scalable, and secure datagrid. This concept includes a global working concept to explain the placement and working parameters within the FhRG environment, an introduction to the Grid Security Infrastructure (GSI) authentication scheme, concepts for distributing and integrating the SRB, and a Firewall concept that explains the most common Firewall scenarios with their respective advantages and disadvantages. The installation procedure is described in detail.

To enable datagrid users to access the datagrid easily, a platform-independent client is developed. The client is a prototype to demonstrate the functions of the established datagrid.

Diplomarbeit: Comparative Evaluation of Implementations of Datagrids and Distributed File Systems, AG DBIS, Fachbereich Informatik, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, November 2003