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Re: [LUG] Clusters, Servers, Networks

 

Quoting Tom Potts <tompotts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

> On Sunday 21 October 2007 21:49, Richard Brown wrote:
>
>> I have 20 off p3's 700mhz. I assumed that if we linked 10 together in
>> a cluster we would have a super-computer that we could run a network
>> off. i.e. the cluster would be a server to lend power to the other 10
>> in the network. I didn't fully appreciate what a cluster was.
>>
>> So the first question is what is a cluster? What is the point to it
>> and why isn't it a server like I wanted?
> The link Rob provided in the follow up e-mail gives a reasonable description
> of clustering options.
> While we were on the topic I was wondering if anyone knows anything about
> asymmetric clustering?
> Symmetric clustering involves collections of more or less identical machines.
> I've been trying to find out if anyone is working on asymmetric clustering
> with no real success.
> The idea being as follows:
> In an organisation it would seem sensible to provide as near 24/7/366 cover
> where possible. High availability clustering would do this until its upgrade
> time. The current setups seem to require a whole batch of near identical
> machines - you can add more to the current cluster but after a couple of
> years you cant normally find the same product so you have to upgrade.
> I'd like to just be able to get in a new machine, stick it on the   
> network, lob
> in a CD and type in a couple of names and passwords and have this machine
> become a useful part of the cluster.
> There seems to be some research in this area but I've not found a   
> distribution
> that attempts to achieve it.
> I'd love to give it a go - set up a hole bunch of different machines for a HA
> cluster and then shoot one to show it still works - might make great UTUBE!
> Tom te tom te tom
>

That would be cool, connecting up something like a 386 with a couple  
of P4, Athlon, Pentium 166 and 486 machines.

Take it that would work a bit like Folding @ Home or Seti with each  
client (of different spec) working on portions of data?

Rob





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