WebSubmit [L1 ] is a Web-based utility providing access to applications on a collection of heterogeneous computing resources. Its goal is to make it easy to use computing resources via the Web without requiring knowledge of the specifics of unfamiliar operating systems and dynamic application environments. Users can effectively log into distinct computing environments and perform tasks without needing a detailed knowledge of their operating environment.
A collection of machines, referred to as the cluster and determined by the site administrators, can be accessed through WebSubmit. Strong authentication using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol lets registered users connect to the system, and when validated by a WebSubmit authority, gives them access to a group of application modules. Each application module is presented as an HTML form; this form is filled out and submitted to the server, which then processes the request and executes the desired tasks on the specified remote system using another secure protocol. The system is flexible and extensible, and its modularity promotes ease of use, maintainability, and interface development.