Ninf is designed to utilize existing numerical libraries and resources on the Web. It also has global scheduling server called the Ninf Metaserver, which is responsible for scheduling and load-distribution of parallel tasks. The metaserver keeps track of computational servers, and gathers information needed for scheduling. Using the information, it balances loads over computational servers.
We performed preliminary benchmarks using the metaserver. There, we observed that scheduling cost can be ignored and dynamic scheduling by the server gained better score than static-cyclic distribution.
We also report on our collaborative efforts in bridging Ninf with NetSolve, a similar system being developed at Univ. of Tennessee/ORNL.