Heterogeneous distributed virtual machines in the Harness metacomputing framework

Harness is a Java-centric, experimental metacomputing framework based upon the principle of dynamic enrolment and reconfiguration of heterogeneous computational resources into distributed virtual machines. The dynamic behavior of the system is not limited to the number and types of computers and networks that comprise the virtual machine, but also extends to the capabilities of the virtual machine itself. These fundamental characteristics address the inflexibility of current metacomputing frameworks as well as their incapability to easily incorporate new, heterogeneous technologies and architectures and avoid rapid obsolescence. The adaptable behavior of Harness derives both from a user controlled, distributed "plug-in" mechanism and from an event driven, dynamic management of the distributed virtual machine status that are central features of the system.