Merging the CCA component model with the OGSI framework

The most important recent development in Grid systems is the adoption of the Web Services model as its basic architecture. The result is called the Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA). This paper describes a component framework for distributed Grid applications that is consistent with that model. The framework, called XCAT, is based on the U.S. Department of Energy Common Component Architecture (CCA) but with an implementation based on the standard Web Services stack. Using this framework, an application programmer can compose an application from a set of distributed components. The result is a set of Web Services that collectively represent the executing application instance. This paper describes the basic architecture of XCAT and the design issues to be considered for a component to serve as both a CCA and Open Grid Service Infrastructure (OGSI) service.