Affiliations: Reading e-Science Centre, Environmental Systems
Science Centre, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AL, UK. Tel.: +44 (0)118
3788741; E-mail: {jdb,kh}@mail.nerc-essc.ac.uk | School of Computer Science, Cardiff University,
Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK. Tel.: +44 (0)29 20876964; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The service-oriented approach to performing distributed scientific
research is potentially very powerful but is not yet widely used in many
scientific fields. This is partly due to the technical difficulties involved in
creating services and workflows and the inefficiency of many workflow systems
with regard to handling large datasets. We present the Styx Grid Service, a
simple system that wraps command-line programs and allows them to be run over
the Internet exactly as if they were local programs. Styx Grid Services are
very easy to create and use and can be composed into powerful workflows with
simple shell scripts or more sophisticated graphical tools. An important
feature of the system is that data can be streamed directly from service to
service, significantly increasing the efficiency of workflows that use large
data volumes. The status and progress of Styx Grid Services can be monitored
asynchronously using a mechanism that places very few demands on firewalls. We
show how Styx Grid Services can interoperate with with Web Services and
WS-Resources using suitable adapters.
