Automated management of software images for efficient resource node building within a grid environment

A system for dynamically managing a plurality of software images in a grid environment, comprising:

• a grid service executing on at least one grid resource within a grid environment;
• said grid service further comprising:
• means for detecting a current software environment for a current grid job within said grid environment;
• means for searching a catalog of a plurality of software images for an image for said current software environment matching one from among said plurality of software images, wherein each of said plurality of software images comprises at least one installation image for a particular software environment, wherein storage of each of said plurality of software images is structured for automated efficient access by each of a plurality of resource nodes within said grid environment;
• and
• means, responsive to not locating said current software environment in said catalog, for capturing at least one installation image for said current software environment for storage in said catalog as an additional software image to said plurality of software images.

A computer readable medium encoded with software for dynamically managing a plurality of software images in a grid environment, said software performing the steps of:

• detecting a current software environment for a current grid job within said grid environment, wherein said grid environment comprises a plurality of grid resources;
• determining whether an image for said current software environment is already stored in a catalog of a plurality of software images, wherein each of said plurality of software images comprises at least one installation image for a particular software environment, wherein storage of each of said plurality of software images is structured in said catalog for automated efficient access by each of a plurality of resource nodes within said grid environment;
• and
• responsive to detecting that said current software environment is not stored in said catalog, capturing at least one installation image for said current software environment for storage in said catalog as an additional software image to said plurality of software images.