Linux and parallel computing

[pgebhard]

My friend just bought two 486 computers for $30 and just to test it out, he wants to build a "Beowolf" computer, which is basically multiple computers running like one. Anyways, we also want to put Linux on them but the hard drives are only 420mb. First, do you think a 486 can run a cd-rom drive? Second, would i be able to squeeze Linux onto that hdd? Third, does anybody know how to make a parallel computer with Linux or an different OS?

 

[DAM]

First, do you think a 486 can run a cd-rom drive?

Yes.

Second, would i be able to squeeze Linux onto that hdd?

Yes, do a search for peanut linux, or consider BeOS, although im not sure how small that is, but its pretty small.

Third, does anybody know how to make a parallel computer with Linux or an different OS?


I have no idea bout this, but im sure google knows a thing or two.


Keep us updated, this sounds like fun, speically since I have to P90s just sitting at home.



dam()

 

[n0cmonkey]

I think RedHat has something for this. Do a search for beowolf and you should get some info back on the redhat site.

 

[bubba]

Parallel computer systems are of no benefit to the average user. Unless you write things specifically for parallel (or your application was written for parallel), you don't see any gain. Even if you did write a specific program, it takes a lot of optimization and a certain kind of problem you are trying to solve to benefit from a parallel computer.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< Parallel computer systems are of no benefit to the average user. Unless you write things specifically for parallel (or your application was written for parallel), you don't see any gain. Even if you did write a specific program, it takes a lot of optimization and a certain kind of problem you are trying to solve to benefit from a parallel computer. >>



But there is no harm in trying it out. I saw a copy of John the Ripper a while back someone was trying to modify to work on a cluster. It seemed like a neat idea.

 

[pgebhard]

Yeah, there is no harm...my friend and i just like computers and wanna play around and see if we can get it to work. He may buy more 486s since they were so cheap

 

[bubba]

I never said that there was harm, but I have heard too many people who want to do this to get higher framerates, or make 10 50MHz 486s work like a 500 MHz PIII, when normal computer activity will be in no way accelerated.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< I never said that there was harm, but I have heard too many people who want to do this to get higher framerates, or make 10 50MHz 486s work like a 500 MHz PIII, when normal computer activity will be in no way accelerated. >>



Ok, yeah letting people know that these things wont perform magic tricks is a good thing.

 

[pgebhard]

I know it wont do harm, but I dont care bout super speeds...I just want to see if it works and stuff. I just like computers and its a cool idea. Its fun taking apart 486s and figgeting

 

[DaHitman]

These guys are a &quot;Computer Recycling&quot; non-profit organzation that takes in old computers and uses the parts to build systems for charities and underprivlaged people...

They have built a Beowolf cluster out of 486's, low end pentiums, and amd k6's... They stick all new boxes they build into the cluster as a burn in process before they ship them out..

They then use the Beowolf parallel cluster for students to do graphics and engineering work for free.

http://www.accrc.org/

I saw them interviewed on TV....

 

[nofuse]

Yes it is possible to squeeze Linux into 420MB. Check out slackware's site and get Zipslack. Or, better yet, if you really want to build a cluster look at building diskless nodes.

 

[MGMorden]

I've gotten Slackware 7.1 just under 50mb for a working install. And I think 486's are perfect to do a cluster on. You probably don't actually have any specific use for a cluster so you don't need true computing power, just an educational tour of setting one of these up. 486's make the perfect genea pigs. And I've used a cdrom on a 20mhz 486 before (the slowest 486 they made), so I know that'll work.

 

[pgebhard]

Yeah, it will be educational. Also, DAM thanks for telling me about peanut linux. It looks great, but i have a few questions about it. First, with the large iso, I assume i can leave off some packages and get it down to the 89 mb iso, right? The reason i would do that is because I want to have more options. Also, I assume Peanut has all the same servers and stuff like mandrake (apache, etc.) because I think we will primarily use it as a web or ftp server. But peanut looks cool. I wonder why other Linux distributions are so big. Last night, I put linux on my friends computer and it was 1.4GB. Well thanks for telling me about Peanut and I will definitely use that one.