Replica Management in Data Grid

The emergence of scientific applications which produce a huge volume of data files to be managed and shared requires special attention. In large-scale grid, data replication provides a suitable solution for managing data files where data reliability and data availability are enhanced. But data replication causes further problems: How to balance the number of replicas in grid sites - indeed, increasing number of replicas leads to increase in data availability and reliability, however the storage space will be increased as well. Therefore, a good balancing of number of replicas is required; and Replica placement problem - placing the new replicas in the appropriate location site can promote reduction in the network bandwidth consumption and reduce the turnaround job time.