Grammar: The Infinitive. The Participle

Word List:

1. distributed network management	управление распределительными сетями
2. mobile agents	автономные программы, быстродействующие факторы
3. network monitoring	наблюдение за сетями
4. ramework	рамки работы, структура
5. scalability	расширяемость, масштабность
6. a novel entity	дополнительный объект
7. host= user	пользователь, владелец
8. domain	домен, область
9. traffic	трафик
10. distributed computing field	поле распределительных вычислений

Mobile Software Agents for Decentralised Network
and Systems Management

Mobile Agent (MA) technology has been proposed for Network and Systems Management (N&SM) as an answer to the scalability limitations of centralized models and the flexibility problems of static hierarchical frameworks. Nevertheless, much is still to be done to deploy MA-based management frameworks that efficiently cope with the dynamically changing traffic and topological characteristics of modern networks.

Mobile Agents (MAs) defined as autonomous programs with the ability of moving from host to host and acting on behalf of users towards the completion of a given task, attract increasing attention within the distributedcomputing field.

The scalability problem is more adequately addressed by hierarchical models that have recently started coming into the picture. But even approaches where MAs are organized in hierarchical fashion, lack clearly defined mechanisms for achieving automatic adaptation of the management system to changing network configurations, i.e. mid-level managers do not normally change the location where they execute. These methods should exploit the unique capability of MAs to move from host to host carrying with them their collected data.

Hence, the deployment of a highly adaptive hierarchically structured management model that relies on MAs both for acting as mid-level managers and collecting results seems a rational approach to address these issues and overcome the limitations of statically configured network management (NM) frameworks.

In order to achieve the transition to a hierarchical model, we introduce a novel entity termed the Mobile Distributed Manager (MDM), a management component that operates at an intermediary level between the manager and management agent end points. MDM entities are essentially MAs that undertake the full responsibility of managing a network domain, when certain criteria (determined by the administrator) are satisfied. Upon being assigned to a domain, the MDM migrates to a host residing in that domain and takes over the management of local network elements (NEs) from the central manager.

As a result, the traffic related to the management of that domain is localized, as the MDM is able to dispatch and receive MAs to collect NM data from the local hosts, or even execute centralized management operations on them.

Focused Practice

I. Answer the following questions:

1. Why has MA technology been proposed for N&SM?

2. Where do MAs attract increasing attention?

3. How is the scalability problem more adequately addressed?

4. What do even approaches where MAs are organized in hierarchical fashion lack?

5. What should these methods exploit?

6. Why does the deployment of a highly adaptive hierarchically structured management model seem a rational approach to address these issues?

7. What is the MDM?

II. Analyse the grammar structures underlined in the above text.

III. Speak on: MDM entities.

Unit 31

Grammar: The Impersonal Constructions.
The Emphatic Constructions

Word List:

1. the grid concept	сетевая концепция, подход
2. grid technologies	организация энергосетей
3. virtual organizations	фактические организации
4. to conflate	объединять
5. to complement	дополнять
6. to coin	изобретать, создавать (о слове)
7. distributed computing	распределенные вычисления
8. grid computing	сетевые вычисления, «решетки» вычислительных ресурсов
9. peer-to-peer computing	вычисления между равноправными узлами (в сети)
10. resource sharing	разделение (совместное использование) ресурсов
11. software development kit (SDK)	набор инструментальных средств по разработке программного обеспечения
12. application programming interfaces	интерфейсы прикладного программирования

“Grid”, the Technology of Distributed Calculation

“Grid” computing has emerged as an important new field, distinguished from conventional distributed computing by its focus on large-scale resource sharing, innovative applications, and, in some cases, high-performance orientation.

The “Grid problem” is defined as flexible, secure, coordinated resource sharing among dynamic collections of individuals, institutions, and resources – what we refer to as virtual organizations. In such settings, we encounter unique authentication, authorization, resource access, resource discovery, and other challenges. It is this class of problem that is addressed by Grid technologies.

In the extensible and open Grid architecture protocols, services, application programming interfaces, and software development kits are categorized according to their roles in enabling resource sharing. It isimportant to define a compact set of inter grid protocols to enable interoperability among different Grid systems. Grid concepts and technologies complement and have much to contribute to other contemporary technologies, including enterprise integration, application service provider, storage service provider, and peer-to-peer computing.

The term “the Grid” was coined in the mid1990s to denote a proposed distributed computing infrastructure for advanced science and engineering. Considerable progress has since been made on the construction of such an infrastructure, but the term “Grid” has also been conflated, at least in popular perception, to embrace everything from advanced networking to artificial intelligence. One might wonder whether the term has any real substance and meaning. Is there really a distinct “Grid problem” and hence a need for new “Grid technologies”? If so, what is the nature of these technologies, and what is their domain of applicability?

The real and specific problem that underlies the grid concept is coordinated resource sharing and problem solving in dynamic, multi-institutional virtual organizations. This sharing is not primarily file exchange but rather direct access to computers, software, data, and other resources, as is required by a range of collaborative problem-solving and resource-brokering strategies emerging in industry, science, and engineering.

Focused Practice

I. Answer the following questions:

1. How is “Grid” computing distinguished from conventional distributed computing?

2. What is the “Grid problem”?

3. What are virtual organizations?

4. When was the term “the Grid” coined?

5. Is the Grid concept indeed motivated by a real and specific problem?

6. What is the sharing that underlies the Grid concept?

II. Analyse the grammar structures underlined in the above text.

III. Speak on: The term “the Grid”.

Unit 32