From Sandbox to Playground: Dynamic Virtual Environments in the Grid

Much experience has been gained with the protocols and mechanisms needed for discovery and allocation of remote computational resources. However, the preparation of a remote computer for use by a distributed application also requires the creation of an appropriate execution environment, which remains an ad hoc and often clumsy process. We propose here a codification of the interactions required to negotiate the creation of new execution environments. In brief, we model dynamic virtual environments (DVEs) as first-class entities in a distributed environment, with Grid service interfaces defined to negotiate creation, monitor properties, and manage lifetime. We also show how such DVEs can be implemented in a variety of technologies— sandboxes, virtual machines, or simply Unix accounts—and evaluate costs associated with these different approaches. DVEs provide a basis for both customization of a remote computer to meet user needs and also enforcement of resource usage and security po...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: GRID
• Authors: Katarzyna Keahey, Karl Doering, Ian T. Foster
• Keywords: Appropriate Execution Environment, Execution Environments, GRID 2004, Remote Computational Resources