Clustering?

[dvryknopper]

Does anybody here use linux clusters in their work/home environment? What are some practical uses for clusters if you aren't using them for large scale mathmatics problems? Is there a way to take a "normal" application and cluster out its operation to the different nodes in the cluster w/o retailoring its source? Could you take a standard kde gui and add mpi functionality to it and use that to use "normal" programs on a clustered system that way? It seems to me that if using a standard operating system on a cluster of old machines would be a great way to have a pretty nice use for a number of old machines as a more powerful system.

[jjmac]

Howdy dvryknopper,

I always thought that programs had to be either written or compiled to optimise for clusters. But as it's really just a style of smp ... i can't really be sure.

Lets hope someone drops in with some thoughts :)


jm
Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed !

[dvryknopper]

Well, I did some research, and downloaded and used a clustering distro (http://idea.uab.es/mcreel/ParallelKnoppix/), and it looks like the only way to use a "normal" application with a group of clustered machines would be to get ahold of that application's source, and add mpi calls to it appropriately, unless somehow you could create an mpi call wrapper around a "normal" application..........hmmm...................

[jjmac]

Probably best to recompile the app with the appropriete support. Rather than trying some wrapper attempt. Sounds like it would just get messy :)


jm
Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed !