Report

FZJ-2026-00042

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png ETP4HPC SRA 6 White Paper - Federation of Computing Infrastructure/Framework

Magugliani, F. (Corresponding author) ; Hoppe, H.-C.FZJ* ; Nortamo, H.

2025
ETP4HPC

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.5281/ZENODO.17544940

Report No.: ETP4HPC Computing Federation White Paper

Abstract: This is a white paper released as part of the ETP4HPC’s Strategic Research Agenda 6.<br><br>A Federated Computing Infrastructure/Framework is the concrete implementation and operation term for a suite of technologies and functionalities aiming at the coordinated management and interoperability of data, resources, and processes across different systems, locations, and organizational boundaries. The framework envisions a decentralized architecture for creating and managing an interconnected network of resources where each participant (which could be a data centre, a system, an application, or any other device) may be used to achieve the intended result, breaking away from the traditional monolithic approach. This framework allows organizations to collaborate and share resources without fully giving up local control and thus to maintain a selectable level of autonomy. Federated Computing Infrastructures are designed from the beginning to be modular and adaptable, allowing resource-providing organizations to choose their level of involvement in the federation to ensure seamless integration with their existing platforms and regulatory requirements. The broader applicability of Federated Computing Infrastructure is pivotal for utilizing distributed data assets among and across organizations and within an organization. Federated Computing Infrastructures enable organizations and users to leverage distributed assets and drive innovation, collaboration, and value creation.<br><br>The key characteristics of a Federated Computing Infrastructure/Framework are:<ol><li><b>Decentralization</b>: Each organisation participating in the Federated Computing Infrastructure makes available its resources while retaining a selectable level of autonomy and independence,</li><li><b>Interoperability</b>: The Federated Computing Infrastructure is designed to enable the interaction among different systems built on different technologies, protocols, or standards.</li><li><b>Openness</b>: The Federated Computing Infrastructure is open and accessible by any entitled organisation aiming at using its resources, provided that the authorization and data security criteria are met.</li><li><b>Scalability</b>: The Federated Computing Infrastructure enables seamless scaling because new organizations, devices and resource-providing institutions can be added to the federation without interfering with the existing Infrastructure. </li><li><b>Data security and sovereignty</b>: The concerns of data protection, data security and privacy-preserving computation are ubiquitous, and the Federated Computing Infrastructures provide tools and safeguards</li><li><b>Fault tolerance, redundancy and resiliency</b>: Because resources are distributed across systems, locations, and organizational, the Federated Computing Infrastructure offers natural redundancy, enhancing the overall resiliency of the architecture. When one unit experiences a fault or is withdrawn from the pool of available resources, the problem is generally isolated to that particular unit, minimizing the impact on the entire system.</li></ol>The concept of Federated Computing Infrastructure/Framework provides a strategic framework that allows for the coordinated management and interoperability of data, resources, and processes. It’s particularly valuable in the EU environment for the exploitation of the computational resources deployed e.g. within the EuroHPC JU programs and initiatives, the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) and the likes, where it is of paramount importance for systems to be autonomous yet able to share compute power, data and resources effectively. However, the benefits come with their own set of challenges, such as increased complexity, inter-system security concerns and potential governance conflicts. Nonetheless, when designed and managed within a proper governance, adequate operational and policy guidelines, Federated Computing Infrastructures provide a powerful way to build flexible, scalable, and collaborative systems.<br><br>This white paper explores the conceptual models of Federated Computing Infrastructure/Framework, the current deployments, the challenges facing the widespread exploitation of the Federated Computing Infrastructure and proposes a number of key R&I recommendations for a smooth and effective exploitation of the current and future deployments. Looking forward, the white paper outlines a Post Exascale Vision providing guidelines for designing future-proof Federated Computing Infrastructures.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC)

Research Program(s):

1. 5122 - Future Computing & Big Data Systems (POF4-512) (POF4-512)

---