PFAS: A Resource-Performance-Fluctuation-Aware Workflow Scheduling Algorithm for Grid Computing

Resource performance in the computational grid is not only heterogeneous, but also changing dynamically. However scheduling algorithms designed for traditional parallel and distributed systems, such as clusters, only consider the heterogeneity of the resources. In this paper, a workflow scheduling algorithm, called PFAS, is proposed and tested in the grid environment. PFAS considers dynamic resource performance fluctuation in the grid, and conducts the scheduling according to its knowledge of the fluctuation. This new algorithm works in an offline way which allows it to be easily set up and run with less cost. Simulations show that our approach can achieve better schedules than the HEFT algorithm.