Difference Between Grid Computing and Cloud Computing

Grid Computing vs Cloud Computing

Grid and Cloud are two terms used in computing to refer to two types of resource sharing techniques where multiple computing devices and usually the Internet are involved. Even though cloud computing derives some characteristics from grid computing, they both should not be confused.

Grid Computing

Grid computing is a form of distributed computing where a virtual computing system is compiled by using many loosely connected computing devices to perform a large computing task. They are loosely connected because they can be from multiple administrative realms coupled to effectively combine computing resources to reach a general goal. The goal can typically be a single problem – usually a scientific of technical problem that requires a large amount of processing performed on a huge data set. A renowned example for grid computing in the public domain is the [email protected] project where a large number of Internet users share their unused processor cycles to perform a scientific experiment in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Cloud Computing

Cloud is a general term used to refer to the Internet due to the fact that cloud symbol used by drawing tools to represent Internet in computer network diagrams or flowcharts. Cloud computing refers to any computing services provided by hosted systems over the Internet. The service provided can be one of the infrastructure, platform or software services. The salient feature of cloud computing is that the service is fully managed by the service provider (the one hosted the services) and the user needs minimum facilities like a personal computer and the Internet to utilize the service. Due to the fact that the service providers host the services, the services are presented to the users in a simple way where they are not needed to understand how the services are provided. Examples for the services (under software services category) can be anything from web-based emails, Amazon cloud player, human resource management system to enterprise resource planning systems. Examples for cloud computing systems include Amazon Web Service (AWS ) and Google’s Gov Cloud.

Related posts:

Difference Between Cloud Computing and Grid Computing Difference Between Intel Mobile Processors Core i7 and Core i7 Extreme Edition Difference Between Netbook and Laptop Difference Between Micro SD Card and Micro SD HC (SDHC) Card Difference Between Amazon Cloud Drive and External Hard Drive