The data access layer in the GRelC system architecture

Grid computing is a well-known technology to share resources such as high-performance computers, sensors, observation devices, data and databases across dynamic and multi-institutional Virtual Organizations (VOs). The complexity of data management in a grid environment comes from the distribution, scale, growing rate, heterogeneity, dynamicity of data sources. The data grid layer (grid data management system) in the overall grid computing software stack must provide a complete support in terms of access, integration, replication, monitoring, mining, management of data sources in a grid environment. The main goal of this work is to present the data access layer of the GRelC system architecture discussing in detail the vision, the main challenges, the internal architecture, the security framework and a real test case in the Earth Science and Environmental domains.