Grid file transfer during deployment, execution, and retrieval

We propose a file transfer approach for the Grid. We have identified that file transfer in the Grid can take place at three different stages: deployment, user application execution, and retrieval (post-execution). Each stage has different environmental requirements, and therefore we apply different techniques. Our contribution comes from: (i) integrating heterogeneous Grid resource acquisition protocols and file transfer protocols including deployment and retrieval, and (ii) providing an asynchronous file transfer mechanism based on active objects, wait-by-necessity, and automatic continuation. We validate and benchmark the proposed file transfer model using ProActive, a Grid programming middleware. ProActive provides, among others; a Grid infrastructure abstraction using deployment descriptors, and an active object model using transparent futures.