What is Grid Computing?

Will I require special training to run jobs on the Global Grid Exchange^®?  Not necessarily. The Frontier^® SDK accepts Java code, so any Java programmer should feel at home running jobs across Frontier.

Will I be able to check the status of the jobs I submit?  Yes, any submitted job may be monitored throughout the time it runs across Frontier^®.

What types of jobs run effectively on the Global Grid Exchange^®?  Generally, any job that has a high compute-time-to-data ratio will run well across Frontier. This means that for a small amount of data, large computations need to be completed. If a job has too much data for small amounts of computation, the majority of the time will be spent sending and receiving data across the Internet rather than computing.

Do I need to write my code in a way that easily lends itself to parallel computing?  Not necessarily, but a general understanding of parallel computing definitely can help you write more efficient code. Highly recursive problems, for example, might run poorly as one computation depends on the other. You will get better results if you design your jobs so that any number of computations can be processed independently.

Is there a way I can test my code before I submit a job?  Yes, by downloading the free Frontier^® SDK, developers have access to a “run local” mode that allows them to simulate their jobs on a single computer.

How much does it cost to use the Global Grid Exchange^®?  The Frontier^® SDK is free and costs are only incurred on a per job basis. For a slightly increased cost, jobs can be given a higher priority and will be completed more quickly. If savings are important, a job can be given a lower processing priority for a lesser cost, but will still return results relatively quickly.

Will my code and data (intellectual property) be secure?  Yes, Java was chosen in particular to keep your intellectual property secure. Additionally, Frontier employs multiple layers of security so that no one can tamper with the code and data you are executing or have any knowledge of what kind of a job is running.

Can I prioritize my job?  Yes you can. For a slightly higher cost, you can give your job an elevated priority and employ a larger portion of resources to achieve quicker results. You can set a lower priority if
the job is less critical or has a longer deadline to completion.