Grid computing environments

Grid aspects that form grid computing environments (GCEs) are not cleanly defined, although there is an operational definition stemming from the work areas of the GCE research group of the Global Grid Forum. We describe the two major areas covered by this research group today. First we discuss programming the grid and follow with a discussion of portals that control the user view of the grid. Together they provide a linked component model for the middleware and user interface to the grid.