Welcome
What is a grid?
The general principle of grid computing consists in the availability of a network
that connects geographically spread computing and storage resources while giving
many user groups access to this network. Each user can gain access to the totality
of the resources (computing capacity, memory, software, storage, ...) that have
been added to the network by other members of the network. Grid computing means
in fact a globalisation and virtualisation of computer infrastructures.
The UGent Grid installation was started together with 6 other Belgian research institutes at the end of 2003, to form the BEgrid, a Belgian grid pilot project. Later on, the Flemish participants were sponsored by the Flemish government to buy grid-equipment.
The UGent grid now consists of 76 nodes having a total of 222 CPUs, 304GB memory and 4.4TB diskspace. All nodes are connected through a 1Gbit network, and are connected to Belnet (the Belgian research network)
Currently, the nodes are running Scientific Linux and the gLite grid middleware developed by CERN for the LHC to form a large European computing grid.