  This paper describes an information system designed to support the large
volume of monitoring information generated by a distributed testbed. This
monitoring information is produced by several subsystems and consists of status
and performance data that needs to be federated, distributed, and stored in a
timely and easy to use manner. Our approach differs from existing approaches
because it federates and distributes information at a low architectural level
via messaging; a natural match to many of the producers and consumers of
information. In addition, a database is easily layered atop the messaging layer
for consumers that want to query and search the information. Finally, a common
language to represent information in all layers of the information system makes
it significantly easier for users to consume information. Performance data
shows that this approach meets the significant needs of FutureGrid and would
meet the needs of an experimental infrastructure twice the size of FutureGrid.
In addition, this design also meets the needs of existing distributed
scientific infrastructures.
