Resource-aware metacomputing

In this paper we outline some potential applications of resource-aware scheduling to high-performance metacomputing applications and describe requirements associated with the use of mobility for resource-aware scheduling. Programs that use mobility as a mechanism to adapt to resource changes have three requirements that are not shared with other mobile programs. Firstly, they need to monitor the level and quality of resources in their operating environment Secondly, they need to be able to react to changes in resource availability. Thirdly, they need to be able to control the way in which resources are used on their behalf (by libraries and other support code). In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of Sumatra, an extension of Java that supports resource-aware mobile programs. We also describe the design and implementation of a distributed resource monitor that provides the information required by Sumatra programs. Finally, we present a prototype resource-aware data intensive program that combines and composes weather images from multiple geographically distributed sources.