Design issues of network enabled server systems for the grid

Abstract

Network Enabled Server is considered to be a good candidate as a viable Grid middleware, offering an easy-to-use programming model. This paper clarifies design issues of Network Enabled Server systems and discusses possible choices, and their implications, namely those concerning connection methodology, protocol command representation, security methods, etc. Based on the issues, we have designed and implemented new Ninf system v.2.0. For each design decision we describe the rationale and the details of the implementation as dictated by the choices. We hope that the paper serves as a design guideline for future NES systems for the Grid.