The Advanced Resource Connector (ARC) is a light-weight, non-intrusive, simple yet powerful Grid middleware capable of connecting highly heterogeneous computing and storage resources. ARC aims at providing general purpose, flexible, collaborative computing environments suitable for a range of uses, both in science and business. The server side offers the fundamental job execution management, information and data capabilities required for a Grid. Users are provided with an easy to install and use client which provides a basic toolbox for job-and data management. The KnowARC project developed the next-generation ARC middleware, implemented as Web Services with the aim of standard-compliant interoperability.
The recent years saw an evolution of Grid technologies from early ideas to production deployments. At the same time, the expectations for Grids shifted from idealistic hopes -buoyed by the successes of the initial testbeds -to disillusionment with available implementations when applied to large-scale general purpose computing. In this paper, we argue that a mature e-Infrastructure aiming to bridge the gaps between visions and realities cannot be delivered without introducing Service Level Management (SLM). To support this thesis, we present an analysis of the Grid foundations and definitions that shows that SLMrelated ideas were incorporated in them from the beginning. Next, we describe how implementing SLM in Grids could improve the usability and user-experience of the infrastructure -both for its customers and service providers. We also present a selection of real-life Grid application scenarios that are important for the research communities supported by the Grid, but cannot be efficiently supported without the SLM process in place. In addition, the paper contains introduction to SLM, a discussion on what introducing SLM to Grids might mean in practice, and what were the current efforts already applied in this field.
This paper presents a methodology used to create a site independent assessment process of the capabilities of service management systems in federated e-infrastructures that can contribute to introduce or improve service management in these application domains. Based on ISO/IEC 20000 concepts it consist of an actors and relationships model, a set of management processes with their corresponding requirements and a capability model that all converge in an easy to use assessment tool. The methodology has been evaluated through its adoption in an existing federated e-infrastructure.
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