Using a grid: A user’s perspective

Most grid systems require the user to log on to a system using an ID that is enrolled in the grid. Other grid systems may have their own grid login ID separate from the one on the operating system. A grid login is usually more convenient for grid users. It eliminates the ID matching problems among different machines. To the user, it makes the grid look more like one large virtual computer rather than a collection of individual machines. Some grid environments may use a proxy login model that keeps the user logged in for a specified amount of time, even if he logs off and back on the operating system and even if the machine is rebooted.

Once logged on, the user can query the grid and submit jobs. Some grid implementations permit some query functions if the user is not logged into the grid or even if the user is not enrolled in the grid.