Wide-area computing: Resource sharing on a large scale

Consider almost any computing resource today-whether hardware, software, or data-and it will invariably be networked. Computing over wide-area network s has been largely ad hoc, but as needs increase, piecemeal solutions no lo nger make sense. Five years ago, the authors set out to design and build a wide-area operati ng system that would allow multiple organizations with diverse platforms to share and combine their resources. This system, Legion, is a network-level operating system designed from scratch to target wide-area computing deman ds.