Researchers studying the behavior of large distributed systems now have a wealth of data: the operation of the largest global grid, EGEE (Enabling Grid for E-Science, www.eu-egee.org ).

Grids are distributed systems throughout the world. Monitoring the grid provides an exceptional opportunity to observe the processes at work in this infrastructure.

The use of grid generates "footprints", a sort of signature (active sites, life-cycle calculations, strategies ¹ allocation of resources,
failures, etc.) which have been collected and are now stored and published. Researchers can access these traces
(anonymous) of the activity of the grid via a web portal (www.grid-observatory.org) to get an overview of the grid, exploring the details of its components, and derive new models
behavior.

These data will help to find the necessary adjustments to improve the reliability and scalability of the grid. Finally, and more
long term, grids are becoming complex systems capable of self-organize, change and learn from the experience.

The Center of the Grid was created by a collaboration of French teams (LRI CNRS-INRIA-Université Paris-Sud and LAL, CNRS-University Paris-Sud) and international (University of Piemonte Orientale, Imperial College London), with the support of the foundation and program Digiteo
PEPS CNRS.
Contact: Cécile Germain-Renaud