Beowulf cluster?

[MistaTastyCakes]

I've heard the term before.. what exactly is one?

 

[MajesticMoose]

i checked around a bit. It seems like its a sort of supercomputer, possibly run like distributed computing. Not positive though. Check it out on google, see what you can find. Anywho, you're atleast getting a bump

m00se

 

[Mucman]

It is the linking together of multiple computers that in the abstract can be looked at as one computer.

 

[WarCon]

From this website, rex.nmhu.edu

Beowulf Cluster

A beowulf cluster is a group of computers connected together over a network, processing in parallel.
What does this mean?

Cheaper computers can be used.
Total cost is much less than a supercomputer
Permormance increases can be made
Older computers can be reused and 'assimilated'

What does this mean for you?
Don't have to give that old computer to your little brother
Imagine playing Quake or HalfLife on 6 computers at once
Don't need to wait for that 1000 MHz machine
Two word: more power

What does it look like?
Loki, a 16 computer cluster, with a total of 3200 MHz and 2Gb of RAM. This machine is about 1/10th the cost of an equivalent supercomputer. Each computer in it would cost you less than $1000 today. Take a look at Loki.

Avalon, a 140 computer cluster, with a total of 74620(!) MHz and 35840 Mb of RAM. This computer is currently 133rd on the top 500 supercomputers, and cost less than virtually every computer on the list. Each node would cost you about $2000 today. Take a look at Avalon.

Take a look at my cluster! It is less impressive, with only 325 MHz and 88 Mb of RAM, but it can grow!

What do you need to set it up?
at least 2 computers (any speed will do)
a network connecting the computers (the faster the better)
Software to connect, and programs that run in it
a little time and patience


________________________________________
You should go to the site and click on the clusters for more info. Avalon really looks cool and makes you think about maybe like what 10 dual processor systems could run at as a cluster and thats only something like $20-30k (maybe a little more). Now if only linux was fully game and software compatible.

I wonder if the multiprocessor kernel is linux based and still going to be free (more or less)?

.............edit...........

I guess it is linux based and this site talks in much more detail about it.
cal-tech beowulf project


.........second edit..........
This is a link for what looks to be linux components for setting up clusters and it looks to be free. I did also see some places that were charging per node for their software, but this one works for linux (RedHat 7.1 for the latest and another version for 6.2) Oscar

 

[neuralfx]

www.beowulf.org straight from the source, the site is down for maintence for the moment, but there is a plethora of info there .. it basically started out as a project at NASA , there is also a Grendel cluster http://www.nsc.liu.se/systems/cluster/grendel/ .. have fun .. its a good project to learn parallel programming with .. good luck ..
-neural

[edit] you dont have to use Linux, although thats what most newer ones are built with, especially home-made ones .. but the beowulf clustering existed well before linux .. [/edit]

 

[Elledan]

This is a good article
Beowulf-Underground.org

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

Wow, thanks for all the help

I've seen the term used elsewhere before, and I had no idea.. this clears it all up. Thank ya.