Abstract:
A network of grid managers includes a first computer linked to a second computer, the first computer having a first grid manager and the second computer having a second grid manager, the first and second grid managers handling at least locating, reserving, allocating, monitoring, and deallocating one or more computational resources for an application, the grid manager, upon receipt of a command, loads new instructions to modify current instructions residing in the service that modifies a behavior of the service without restarting the service.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application incorporates by reference the content of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/490,818, Express Mail Number, EV  331001684  US, filed Jul. 28, 2003, to Erol Bozak et al., entitled GRID COMPUTING MANAGEMENT. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to maintainable grid managers.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In today&#39;s data centers, the clusters of servers in a client-server network that run business applications often do a poor job of managing unpredictable workloads. One server may sit idle, while another is constrained. This leads to a “Catch-22” where companies, needing to avoid network bottlenecks and safeguard connectivity with customers, business partners and employees, often plan for the highest spikes in workload demand, then watch as those surplus servers operate well under capacity most of the time.  
         [0004]     In grid computing, all of the disparate computers and systems in an organization or among organizations become one large, integrated computing system. That single integrated system can then handle problems and processes too large and intensive for any single computer to easily handle in an efficient manner.  
         [0005]     More specifically, grid computing is a form of distributed system wherein computing resources are shared across networks. Grid computing enables the selection, aggregation, and sharing of information resources resident in multiple administrative domains and across geographic areas. These information resources are shared, for example, based upon their availability, capability, and cost, as well as a user&#39;s quality of service (QoS) requirements. Grid computing can mean reduced cost of ownership, aggregated and improved efficiency of computing, data, and storage resources, and enablement of virtual organizations for applications and data sharing.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In one aspect, the invention features a network that includes a first computer linked to a second computer, the first computer having a first service and the second computer having a second service, the first and second services handling at least locating, reserving, allocating, monitoring, and deallocating one or more computational resources for an application, the service, upon receipt of a command, loads new instructions to modify current instructions residing in the service that modifies a behavior of the service without restarting the service.  
         [0007]     Embodiments may include one or more of the following. The command causes a modification of a behavior of the application without restarting the application.  
         [0008]     In another aspect, the invention features a method that includes receiving a message having a command for a service that handles locating, reserving, allocating, monitoring, and deallocating one or more computational resources for an application running on a computer in a network. The method also includes loading a first set of instructions from a location remote from the service in response to the command, replacing a portion of instructions for the service with the first set of instructions, and executing the service according to the first set of instructions.  
         [0009]     Embodiments may include one or more of the following. The method further includes replacing a portion of instructions for the application with the first set of instructions and executing the application according to the first set of instructions. The method further includes modifying a relationship between the service and a second service in response to the command, wherein the second service comprises locating, reserving, allocating, monitoring, and deallocating one or more computational resources for an application running on a computer in the network.  
         [0010]     These and other embodiments may have one or more of the following advantages. A network for grid computing can be extended and maintained with less effort by using grid managers.  
         [0011]     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a grid computing environment.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram for discovering and reserving resources in the grid computing environment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram for installing, running, and removing applications in the grid computing environment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a computer device in the grid computing environment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a flow diagram for starting up an application in the computer device of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram for starting up grid managers in the grid computing environment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]     FIG  5 A is a block diagram of the grid computing environment of  FIG. 1  that is augmented with another computer device.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an exemplary a grid graphical user interface (GUI) component for visualization of a grid computing environment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a grid browser component. 
     
    
       [0021]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , services in a grid computing environment  100  manage computational resources for applications. The grid computing environment  100  is a set of distributed computing resources that can individually be assigned to perform computing or data retrieval tasks for the applications. The computational resources include computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . The computer devices communicate using a network  8 . The applications have scalable computational requirements. For example, an example application that uses computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  in the grid computing environment  100  is an internet pricing configurator. The computer device  12  provides network access to pricing information to users via web browsers on computer devices that are connected to the internet. The web browsers can be any application able to display content and/or execute applications such as web pages, media files, and programs, such as Netscape Navigator®, Microsoft Internet Explorer®, and similar applications.  
         [0023]     In this example, a web server on computer device  12  provides pricing information to the users. Calculation parameters for each price to be calculated are passed by an IPC dispatcher  116  to IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  that execute on computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 , respectively. Due to the flexibility of the web server and applications on the internet, the number of users can vary. This generates dynamic computational requirements for the internet pricing configurator. An IPC manager  118  communicates with services in the grid computing environment  100  so that the services can allocate and deallocate computational resources (e.g., processors in computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ) based on the dynamic computational requirements of the internet pricing configurator. Allocating and deallocating computational resources in this manner allows computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , or  22  to be designated as general-purpose computational resources and not solely dedicated to handling peak demands of the internet pricing configurator application. The IPC manager  118  coordinates with the IPC dispatcher  116  so that the IPC dispatcher  116  has access to resources in network  8 .  
         [0024]     This capability to allocate and deallocate the resources in the grid computing environment  100  enables the IPC manager  118  to locate and use available computational resources on an “as needed” basis. Once resources are located, the IPC manager  118  can use services in the grid computing environment  100  to install the IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  as applications on computer devices in the grid computing environment  100 . The IPC dispatcher  116  uses Web Service Definition Language (WSDL) interfaces defined in the Open Grid Services Infrastructure (OGSI) Version 1.0 by Tuecke et al to manage and exchange the information flow between the IPC dispatcher  116  and IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126 . For example, the OGSI WSDL interfaces can be used to pass computation parameters for pricing calculations from the IPC dispatcher  116  and the IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126 . The OGSI WSDL interfaces can also be used to pass completed results from the IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  back to IPC dispatcher  116 . The OGSI Version 1.0 is incorporated herein by reference. The OGSI WSDL interfaces enable the controlled, fault-resilient, and secure management of the grid computing environment  100  and applications such as the internet pricing configurator.  
         [0025]     While the IPC dispatcher  116  uses IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  to perform calculations for users, services in the grid computing environment  100  monitor resource utilization on computer devices in the grid computing environment  100  running the IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126 . The services also send this utilization information to the IPC manager  118 . Based on a comparison between utilization requirements and current resource loading, the IPC manager  118  can dynamically inform services in the grid computing environment  100  to allocate more resources for IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  or deallocate resources to keep utilization of resources in the grid computing environment  100  at a desired level.  
         [0026]     Grid managers  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  160 ,  162 , and  164  are resident in computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , respectively. Within the grid computing environment  100 , pairs of grid managers can have directional relations that classify one grid manager as superior to another grid manager. A grid manager can have more than one superior relations with other grid managers. For example, grid manager  152  has a superior relation with grid managers  154  and  156 . A grid manager can also have more than one inferior relations with other grid managers. Through these hierarchical relations, IPC manager  118  does not need access to a list of all computer devices in network  8  to use the computational resources in the grid computing environment  100 . IPC manager  118  is only required to have access to a network address of one computer device running a grid manager (e.g., computer device  12  running grid manager  152 ) and this grid manager uses its relations with other grid managers running on other computer devices to provide IPC dispatcher  116  with indirect access to other computer devices in the grid computing environment  100 .  
         [0027]     A grid manager (e.g.,  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  160 ,  162 , and  164 ) maintains a first list of all superior relations with other grid managers and a second list of all inferior relations with other grid managers. Each grid manager maintains an “always open” communications channel to all the grid managers in these lists over network  8  using, for example, the aforementioned OGSI WSDL interfaces on transmission control protocol (TCP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), and simple object access protocol (SOAP). These lists and corresponding communication channels can be modified, allowing a dynamic reconfiguration of the grid hierarchy during runtime. This also allows a failing grid manager to be dynamically replaced in the hierarchy. For example, referring to  FIG. 1 , if grid manager  154  fails, then grid manager  152  loses its connection to grid managers  160  and  162 . In this case, relations between grid managers can be modified so that grid manager  152  has new superior relations to grid managers  160  and  162 . Likewise, grid managers  160  and  162  have new inferior relations to grid manager  152 .  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an application start process  200  is designed so applications (e.g., internet pricing configurator) get necessary resources allocated in the network  8  before executing on a computer device (e.g.,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , or  22 ). Process  200  also guarantees if similar applications are trying to start at the same time on the same resource on a computer device that the two or more applications do not collide or interfere with each other. For example, the IPC manager  118  can require that an IPC server (e.g.,  120 ) be the only application executing on a processor in computer device  14  for quality of service (QoS). In this case, another application would interfere if the other application simultaneously attempted to execute on the processor in computer device  14 .  
         [0029]     Process  200  includes IPC manager  118  (or some other application) sending ( 202 ) requirements for computational resources to query a grid manager (e.g.,  154 ) to determine if there are resources matching these requirements available in the grid computing environment  100 . These requirements specify information pertaining to resources in a computer device such as required number of processors, required percentage of utilization for those processors, main memory, and network speed. The query can also include information to which hierarchy level (in the grid computing environment  100 ) the query should be propagated. Process  200  includes grid manager  154  receiving ( 204 ) the requirements.  
         [0030]     To respond to the query for available resources from IPC manager  118 , process  200  includes grid manager  154  matching ( 206 ) the requirements against resources known to grid manager  154 . These resources include resources (e.g., processor  40 ) in computer device  14  that are directly managed by grid manager  154 . Resources directly managed by grid manager  154  that are currently available and meet the requirements are added to a resource-query list maintained by grid manager  154 .  
         [0031]     Grid manager  154  also sends the query to grid managers  160  and  162  having inferior relations with grid manager  154 . Process  200  includes grid managers  160  and  162  responding ( 208 ) to the query by sending to grid manager  154  lists of resources (e.g., processors on computer devices  18 ,  20 ) that meet the requested requirements and are available and known to grid managers  160  and  162 , respectively. These resource-query lists of resources that are known to grid managers  160  and  162  can also include resources managed by grid managers (not shown) with inferior relations to grid managers  160  and  162 . Grid manager  154  adds these resource-query lists of available resources from grid managers  160  and  162  to its resource-query list of available resources meeting the requested requirements. If process  200  determines ( 210 ) that there is at least one resource (e.g., processor  40 ) in this resource-query list, then grid manager  154  sends ( 214 ) this resource-query list to IPC manager  118 . Otherwise, if process  200  determines ( 212 ) that grid manager  154  has a relation with a superior grid manager (e.g., grid manager  152 ), grid manager  154  sends ( 202 ) the query for available resources to grid manager  152 . In response to this query, grid manager  152  does not send a redundant query back to grid manager  154  having an inferior relation with grid manager  152 .  
         [0032]     Process  200  includes grid manager  154  sending ( 214 ) the list of available resources along with addresses of their corresponding grid managers in the network  8  that match the requirements. The IPC manager  118  selects a resource (e.g., on computer device  16 ) from the list and requests ( 216 ) a reservation of the resource on computer device  16  to the grid manager  154  managing the resource on computer device  16 . If the resource in computer device  16  is still available for reservation ( 218 ) and the reservation succeeds, grid manager  154  sends ( 220 ) a reservation number to the IPC manager  118 . This reservation means that the IPC manager  118  is guaranteed and allocated the requested resource on the computer device  16  in the grid computing environment  100 . The grid manager  154  handles queries for available resources from applications such as IPC manager  118  using independent processing threads of execution. Thus, the grid manager  154  uses a semaphore to ensure that the same resource (e.g., processor  40 ) is not assigned multiple reservation numbers for different applications simultaneously requesting the same resource.  
         [0033]     If the grid manager determines that the requested resource in computer device  16  is not available for reservation and the reservation fails, the IPC manager  118  selects the next available resource in the list and requests ( 216 ) the reservation of this next available resource. If the IPC manager  118  receives a registration number and a timeout measured from the sending of the registration number does not expire ( 222 ), the IPC manager  118  starts ( 224 ) the IPC server  122  on the processor  40  resource in computer device  16 . Starting the IPC server  122  is initiated by passing the reservation number and an application file to the grid manager  156  and then grid manager  156  reads the application file to install and execute the IPC server  122  on computer device  16 .  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , process  250  installs an application (e.g., IPC server  122 ) on a computer device (e.g.,  14 ) in the grid computing environment  100  to set up an available resource for the application, using the available resource, and removing or deinstalling the application to free up the resource for use by subsequent applications when the resource is no longer needed. Process  250  includes IPC manager  118  transferring ( 252 ) an application file containing code for IPC server  122  in addition to instructions on how to install, customize, track and remove the application from computer device  14  so that the grid manager  154  can return computer device  14  to an original state after executing the application.  
         [0035]     IPC manager  118  transfers the application file using a file transfer protocol (FTP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), or a file copy from a network attached storage (NAS) for example, to computer device  14  as a single file, such as a compressed zip file. Within this zip file there is information about installing and customizing the application IPC server  122 . This information is represented by a small executable program or extended markup language (XML) document that is extracted and interpreted ( 254 ) by an installation and customizing engine (not shown) in grid manager  154 . Process  250  includes grid manager  154  installing ( 256 ) and running ( 258 ) the application. During installation ( 256 ), customization and execution ( 258 ) of the application, all changes to the computer device  14  are logged so that when the application is terminated ( 260 ) or deinstalled by grid manager  154  upon request by IPC manager  118 , grid manager  154  removes the application from the computer device  14  and also removes ( 262 ) any other changes to computer device  14  that were done when installing and running the application. Thus, the computer device  14  reverts to its original state prior to execution of the application and all of the resources of computer device  14  are again available for use by a subsequent application. This allows the resources to become available after running the application without rebooting computer device  14 . These changes include space in memory (e.g.,  32 ) allocated to store and run application code in addition to other changes such as allocation of communication ports.  
         [0036]     In some examples, multiple applications can simultaneously run on resources in a single computer device (e.g.,  14 ). Applications for the grid computing environment  100  are classified in part based on their resource requirements. Some changes to a computer device to run an application are only required for the first execution of an application of its class and subsequent executions do not require these changes. In these examples, grid manager  154  only does the changes for the first execution. Furthermore, when deinstalling the applications, grid manager  154  only removes the changes for the last application that was executed and terminated.  
         [0037]     After installing applications on computer devices in the grid computing environment  100 , grid managers are configured to start or stop the processes of these applications upon request. In the example of the internet pricing configurator (IPC) application, grid manager  154  is configured to start or stop IPC server  122  on computer device  14  after installing IPC server  122  on computer device  14 . The IPC manager  118  requests grid managers to start or stop IPC servers in the grid computing environment  100  based on current utilization of resources in the grid computing environment  100 . After stopping IPC server  122  on computer device  14 , IPC manager  118  waits a prespecified amount of time and then requests grid manager  154  to deinstall IPC server  122  if current resource utilization does not indicate a need to start IPC server  122  again. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, grid managers monitor resource utilization on computer devices such as computer device  14  running applications (e.g. IPC servers  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126 ) and send this utilization information to IPC manager  118 .  
         [0038]     In many examples, control of application processes on resources in a computer device is specific to the operating system (OS). The grid computing environment  100  is configured to handle different operating systems on computer devices. Furthermore, grid computing environment  100  is designed to handle different applications (e.g., internet pricing configurator) that do not have to be redesigned to execute on the grid computing environment  100 . A grid manager controls an application process in a general manner that decreases interdependence between development of grid manager code and application code. An interface is provided to application code to enable grid managers to discover, control (e.g., start, stop, halt, resume) and inspect or monitor a state of application processes. The interface is provided for operating system processes that are exposed by the operating system or hosting environment and includes three aspects. One aspect of the interface is process data, such as process identification, states, degree of resource consumption (such as Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, socket bindings, or other resources that an application can use), and application specific data defined by a process data scheme.  
         [0039]     A second aspect of the interface is managing operations, such as start, stop, wait, resume, change priority, and other operations defined by supported managing operations.  
         [0040]     A third aspect of the interface is control bindings and definitions, such as process data scheme, supported managing operations, and communication bindings. Since not all applications running in the grid computing environment  100  have access to the same information and capabilities in these three aspects, the applications provide to grid managers a list of queries and commands that each application supports.  
         [0041]     The interface provided to application code is an Application Program Interface (API). The API is a set of methods (embedded in software code) prescribed by the grid manager software by which a programmer writing an application program (e.g., internet pricing configurator) can handle requests from the grid manager.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , IPC server  122  includes an API  302  and a document  304 . Since the API  302  is adapted to different types of applications, the document  304  describes how grid manager  154  communicates with the IPC server  122  and what requests through the API  302  are supported by the IPC server  122 . Grid manager  154  reads document  304  before starting up IPC server  122 . In some examples, document  304  is written in XML and includes a Document Type Description (DTD)  306 . A DTD is a specific definition that follows the rules of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). A DTD is a specification that accompanies a document and identifies what the markups are that separate paragraphs, identify topic headings, and how each markup is to be processed. By including the DTD  306  with document  304 , grid manager  154  having a DTD “reader” (or “SGML compiler”) is able to process the document  304  and can correctly interpret many different kinds of documents  304  that use a range of different markup codes and related meanings.  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 4A , grid manager  154  uses process  350  to install applications such as IPC server  122 . Grid manager  154  reads ( 352 ) DTD  306  in document  304  to identify markups in document  304 . Grid manager  154  reads ( 354 ) document  304  using markups to identify communication parameters for communicating with IPC server  122 . Grid manager  154  sets up ( 356 ) communications with IPC server  122  based on the specifications of the communication parameters. Grid manager  154  communicates ( 358 ) with IPC server  122  using the communication parameters to send requests such as “Start”, “Stop”, and “Are you idle?”.  
         [0044]     Before any applications (e.g., internet pricing configurator) can be executed on network  8 , grid managers  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  160 ,  162 , and  164  are asynchronously started up on computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , and relations to other grid managers are established. As shown in  FIG. 5 , process  400  initializes relations among grid managers. For each grid manager (e.g., grid manager  154 ), the grid manager  154  starts up on computer device  14  by reading ( 402 ) a properties file. The properties file contains a list of addresses of computer devices with grid managers having superior relations to grid manager  154 . This list was described earlier as a first list of all superior relations with other grid managers. If ( 404 ) a superior grid manager (e.g., grid manager  152 ) is specified in this list of addresses, grid manager  154  requests ( 406 ) to open a communication channel to the superior grid manager (e.g.,  152 ). If grid manager  152  is already started, then grid manager  152  responds by accepting the request of the opening of the communication channel from grid manager  152 . Process  400  includes grid manager  154  detecting ( 408 ) any requests for communication channels from grid managers (e.g., grid managers  160 ,  162 ) identified as having inferior relations with grid manager  154 . If process  400  determines ( 410 ) that there are some requests, grid manager  154  allows communication channels from the inferior grid managers (e.g.,  160 ,  162 ). Process  400  includes grid manager  154  checking ( 414 ) if there are any pending requests for communication to grid managers having superior relations. If there are any pending requests, grid manager  154  requests ( 406 ) communication channels to grid managers. These communication channels are used for resource queries between grid managers (as described previously) and “heart beat” messages between grid managers to ensure that each grid manager in the grid computing environment  100  is functioning.  
         [0045]     Once grid managers  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  160 ,  162 , and  164  are running with established relations, the grid managers are used for the proper operation of the grid computing environment  100 . Often during the lifecycle of the grid computing environment  100  the functionality of the grid managers are enhanced. It is often not possible or convenient to shut down the grid computing environment  100  and start the grid computing environment  100  up with the enhancements. Grid managers  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  160 ,  162 , and  164  are configured so that there is only a minimal impact on users of the grid computing environment  100  when a change happens. To enable this transparency, an API is provided for user interfaces to enable an administrator of grid computing environment  100  to access each of the grid managers  152 ,  154 ,  156 ,  160 ,  162 , and  164  individually or all together. The API is static in that it includes only one method, i.e., a string that contains a command typed by the administrator. The API is dynamic because the string can contain many different commands.  
         [0046]     In some cases, the grid managers are developed using the Java programming language. In these cases, new commands issued to the grid managers can be supported by loading new or revised Java classes dynamically via classloaders. This dynamic access to code can be done without shutting down grid managers in the grid computing environment  100 . Using Java classloaders, each time an instance of a class for a grid manager is generated, the definition and behavior of the class can be updated to provide new functionality to the grid computing environment  100 .  
         [0047]     Another way to modify the functionality of the grid computing environment  100  dynamically without shutting down the grid computing environment  100  is to change the hierarchical relations between grid managers, remove grid managers, or add new grid managers. The API provided for administration of the grid computing environment  100  is also configured to send strings to individual grid managers with commands to delete existing relations or add new relations.  
         [0048]     For administrators of grid computing environment  100 , it is useful to visualize the applications and a grid manager on one computer device in the grid computing environment  100  as well as other computer devices running part of the grid management hierarchy in the form of grid managers with one or more levels of inferior relations to the grid manager. The view of these computer devices is referred to as a grid landscape. As shown in  FIG. 6 , a grid graphical user interface (GUI)  500  for visualization of a grid landscape, such as the grid computing environment  100 , includes GUI-elements visualizing an organization of services running on computer devices. The GUI  500  provides a grid-like structure with columns and rows. Rows represent services, which in turn are structured hierarchically with respect to the application where a service belongs to, the type of the service, and the specific service instances. Each service instance row is associated with a place in the grid computing environment  100  representing where it is instantiated. In this context, columns represent the computer devices in the grid landscape. Specifically, GUI  500  has three columns representing three computer devices  12 ,  14 , and  16 . GUI  500  shows that grid manager  152  runs on computer device  12  with inferior grid managers  154  and  156  running on computer devices  14  and  16 , respectively. GUI  500  also shows internet pricing configurator services running on computer device  12 . These internet pricing configurator services include IPC dispatcher  116 , IPC server  120 , and IPC manager  118 .  
         [0049]     The GUI  500  is dynamically refreshed with feedback from the grid managers and internet pricing configurator (or other application) services so that new services appear in GUI  500  to an administrator. Similarly, services that are shut down are removed in GUI  500 .  
         [0050]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a grid browser component  600  is a composite graphical user interface (GUI) for browsing grid managers on computer devices in the grid computing environment  100 . The component  600  displays a graph with curved edges and vertices. Vertices represent computer devices in the grid computing environment  100  and curved edges represent the directional association of grid managers on two computer devices (vertices) in the grid computing environment  100 . This association is hierarchical (i.e., superior/inferior). Each vertex displays the network address of a computer device as well as applications currently running on the computer device. For example, component  600  shows computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  with IPC servers  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124 . In other examples (not shown), the grid browser component  600  shows non-hierarchical, peer to peer associations of grid managers with non-directional edges representing the associations.  
         [0051]     The grid browser component  600  is context sensitive. Depending on the relationship among the grid managers on the computer devices (e.g., superior/inferior), computer devices are traversed in respect to a user&#39;s browsing history.  
         [0052]     By clicking on a vertex representing a computer device in GUI  600  (e.g., computer device  14 ), a user can automatically view a grid manager and applications running on the computer device and grid managers having inferior relations to the grid manager using GUI  500 . The user can pick a computer device and see relations between its grid manager and other grid managers. This connection between GUIs  500  and  600  is done using software that generates GUIs  500  and  600 .  
         [0053]     The network  8  can be implemented in a variety of ways. The network  8  includes any kind and any combination of networks such as an Internet, a local area network (LAN) or other local network, a private network, a public network, a plain old telephone system (POTS), or other similar wired or wireless networks. Communications through the network  8  may be secured with a mechanism such as encryption, a security protocol, or other type of similar mechanism. Communications through the network  8  can include any kind and any combination of communication links such as modem links, Ethernet links, cables, point-to-point links, infrared connections, fiber optic links, wireless links, cellular links, Bluetooth®, satellite links, and other similar links.  
         [0054]     The network  8  is simplified for ease of explanation. The network  8  can include more or fewer additional elements such as networks, communication links, proxy servers, firewalls or other security mechanisms, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), gatekeepers, gateways, switches, routers, hubs, client terminals, and other elements.  
         [0055]     Computer devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  communicate over medium  10  using one of many different networking protocols. For instance, one protocol is Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) combined with SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).  
         [0056]     Embodiments of the invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Embodiment of the invention can be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a node-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.  
         [0057]     Method steps of embodiments of the invention can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps can also be performed by, and apparatus of the invention can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).  
         [0058]     Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry.  
         [0059]     To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the invention can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.  
         [0060]     Embodiments of the invention can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of embodiments of the invention, or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet.  
         [0061]     The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.  
         [0062]     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.