| Benchmarks: PMB Results: |
| MPI Samples |
| Documents |
| Tutorials |
| |
|
Cluster computing is one of the most revolutionary technology developments since the invention of computer. It makes realy powerful scientific computing available to the general business community.
|
|
A cluster is a type of parallel or distributed processing system, which consists of a collection of interconnected stand-alone/complete computers cooperatively working together as a single, integrated computing resource.
|
|
Hardware configurations vary from basic groups of clusters connected with standard hardware, all the way to specially tuned supercomputer configurations. Cluster supports an open architecture approach to writing software for parallel clusters, allowing the software to easily support all configurations up to supercomputers.
|
|
The term "clustering" actually refers to a number of different technologies and configurations.
|
|
One of the types of clustering is that of high performance groups of computers used for scientific research. The basic idea in the background of the "performance clustering" approach is to make a large number of individual machines act like a single very powerful machine. This type of cluster is best applied to large and complex problems that require tons of computing horsepower. Applications such as weather prediction, astronomy, and cryptographic research are prime candidates for high-performance clusters.
|
|
A second type of clustering technology allows a network of servers to share the load of traffic from clients. By load balancing this traffic across an array of servers, access times improve and reliability increases. Additionally, since many servers are handling the work, one failure will not cause a catastrophic breakdown. This kind of service has tremendous value to companies with extremely high-traffic Web sites.
|
|
The last major type of clustering involves having the servers act as live backups of each other. This is called "high availability clustering". By constantly tracking the performance and stability of the other servers, a high availability cluster allows for greatly improved system uptimes. This can be crucial in high traffic e-business sites and for other mission critical applications. Load balancing and high availability clusters share many common components, and some clusters make use of both types of clustering.
|
Cluster fully supports software development in all the following areas:
- Parallel algorithm development
- MIMD message passing designs
- PVM
- MPI
- Master-slave design
- Peer-to-peer design
- Software languages supported
- C/C++
- Fortran
|
