The globus device (see http://www.globus.org/mpi) supports the execution of MPI programs on ``computational grids'' that may include parallel computers and workstations, and that may span multiple sites. In such grid environments, different sites may support different security mechanisms and different process creation mechanisms. The globus device hides these low-level details from you, allowing you to start programs with mpirun as on MPPs and workstation clusters. The globus device also provides other convenient features, such as remote access to files and executable staging. These features are provided by using services supplied by the Globus toolkit: see http://www.globus.org for details.
The Globus device requires that special servers be running on the computers where processes are to be created. In our discussion of how to use the globus device, we assume that we are using the globus device on GUSTO, an international network of resources on which the various Globus servers are already installed and running. If possible, we recommend that you use the globus device in this environment. If you wish to use the globus device in other situations, please send email to developers@globus.org. Details of how to run MPI programs using the Globus device on the GUSTO environment are in Appendix MPI, Globus, and GUSTO .