World's biggest grid unveiled by UK scientists

UK scientists have demonstrated the world's largest grid computing project.

The grid is made up of over 6,000 machines, with over 1,000 in the UK alone, stretching across 78 countries.  The project is part of the Large Hadron Collider Computing Grid (LCG) - the world's largest and first permanent grid, destined to carry out research into particle physics.

The scientists expect the grid to process 15 petabytes of data annually - that's 15 million, billion bytes. The boffins' dreams don't end there - they're hoping to push the grid bigger still.

By 2007, the scientists will have the grid made up of 10,000 computers running 5,000 jobs, with the possibility of expanding further still. Scientists chose the grid computing option for particle research because, compared to using supercomputers, it's cheaper and easier to enlarge.

As well as witnessing a grid with the computing power of 100,000 fast PCs, it could also be the year that grid takes on the mainstream. Analyst house IDC predicts that by 2007, the grid market will be worth $12bn.

The LCG was demonstrated at the All Hands e-Science meeting in Nottingham, with those involved in the project talking through the issues that affected the project.