Grid computing is an emerging technology designed for high-powered applications. Grid Application Systems Design shows how to unleash the high performance of Grid technology. It begins by delving into the history and theory of grid computing, providing background on the concepts, terminology, and issues surrounding it. The book then examines design issues inherent in using Grid technology and a highly distributed computing model. These issues include data updating, data retrieval, concurrency, maintenance, and security concerns. The book also takes an in-depth look at the advantages of migrating toward this new computing architecture and the possibilities it holds for users. The author addresses such issues as high capacity bandwidth and interconnection requirements that relate to managers and administrators. Lastly, the book explores the design decisions, issues, and opportunities that must be tackled by the designer, the developer, and the data administrator involved in creating applications for this new paradigm.