Re: [Nolug] Beowulf Cluster and Thin Clients

Well,

I know absolutely NOTHING about both, but I've never considered ignorance a
bar to learning from experimentation.

So:

Planned experiment one: Build a Beowulf Cluster.
Goal: Learn about Beowulf Clusters
Terms for success: develop an understanding of what EXACTLY a Cluster does.

Planned experiment two: Build a Thin Client/Server Network.
Goal: Run multiple clients from a single Linux Box. see www.ltsp.org
Terms for success: develop the skills and confidence to handle Thin Clients
and Servers.

Premise of PE3: "One of the main differences between Beowulf and a Cluster
of Workstations <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_of_Workstations> (COW)
is that Beowulf behaves more like a single machine rather than many
workstations." (from the original how-to which was published by Jacek
Radajewski and Douglas Eadline under the Linux Documentation
Project<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Documentation_Project> in
1998.)

I understand that behaving LIKE a single machine and BEING a single machine
are two different animals, but I'm willing to experiment.

Planned experiment three: Build a Beowulf Cluster/ThinClient Server

Goal: To successfully utilize the processing power of multiple computers to
support the functions of the Server Node on a Beowulf Cluster working also
as the Server Node on a Thin Client Network.
Terms for success: Learn EITHER way whether or not such a merger of concepts
is worth the effort.

Summary: Instead of having multiple machines crunching away on individual
graphics applications, it would be interesting if merging 18 desktops into a
processing engine to support the computing needs of our business while
lowering the cost of expanding the number of terminals in the business as we
add employees.

On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 12:22 AM, Ron Johnson <ron.l.johnson@cox.net> wrote:

> On 04/22/2011 12:06 AM, Clint Billedeaux wrote:
>
>> Does anyone on this list know enough about Clusters and Thin Clients to
>> really discuss it? Or am I just going to have to go experiment with it
>> blindly? That's a trick question. I'm going to experiment blindly
>> regardless of what I hear. It would just be nice if I could get some
>> encouragement from someone who has some experience with either or both.
>>
>>
> Since clusters and TCs are solutions to sufficiently different problems
> that they don't overlap very much, please tell us your goals.
>
> --
> "Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure
> the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally
> corrupt."
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Received on 04/22/11