GridFTP: A Brief History of Fast File Transfer (2024)

GridFTP is a protocol for transferring files over the internet, developed by the Global Lambda Grid Forum. It was first introduced in 2002 as a standard for high-speed data transfer in grid computing environments. GridFTP allows for parallel transfers, which can significantly improve the speed of data transfer. It also supports features like partial file transfers and restartable transfers. GridFTP is widely used in scientific research and data-intensive applications, such as particle physics and climate modeling. The protocol has undergone several revisions, with the latest version, GridFTP 3.0, released in 2017.