Workflow Support for Complex Grid Applications: Integrated and Portal Solutions

In this paper we present a workflow solution to support graphically the design, execution, monitoring, and performance visualisation of complex grid applications. The described workflow concept can provide interoperability among different types of legacy applications on heterogeneous computational platforms, such as Condor or Globus based grids. The major design and implementation issues concerning the integration of Condor/CondorG/DAGman tools, Mercury/GRM grid monitoring infrastructure, PROVE performance visualisation tool, and the new high-level workflow editor and manager of P-GRADE development environment are discussed in the case of the integrated and the portal version as well. The integrated version of PGRADE represents the thick client concept, while the portal version needs only a thin client and can be accessed by a standard web browser. To illustrate the application of our approach in the grid, an ultra-short range weather prediction system is presented that can be executed on a Condor-G/Globus based testbed and its execution can also be visualised not only at workflow level but at the level of individual jobs, too.