Towards a Decision Framework for the Use of Multiagent Systems in OGSA Compliant Grid Middleware

Implementing and using Grids requires a suitable Grid middleware. A reference model for the architecture of Grid middleware is the Open Grid Service Architecture (OGSA) which proposes a service-oriented architecture based on Web service technologies. As a consequence, the potential of such OGSA compliant Grid middleware is limited by the capabilities of Web service technologies. Recently, multiagent concepts and technologies have been proposed to overcoming these limitations. While this suggestion was widely accepted by both the multiagent and Grid community and has already resulted in a wide spectrum of respective research and development, there is still no comprehensive decision support available on how and where to use multiagent technology in OGSA compliant Grid middleware. The engineering of Grid middleware could benefit from such a support. Therefore, this paper aims at a first attempt towards a framework to support the engineering of OGSA compliant Grid middleware using multiagent technology.