Need some beginner info on Beowulf and paralell computing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alex_Sanders
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Beginner Computing
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on setting up a Beowulf cluster using low-cost hardware components, including motherboards (MB), CPUs, RAM, and DMA 33 hard drives. The primary architecture involves a master computer that allocates tasks to slave nodes connected via PCI slots, leveraging the mature technology of PCI for ease of addressing and interrupts. The conversation also explores alternatives such as using Ethernet for networking multiple cheap PCs or employing PCI-based single board computers, while emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to create a DIY server capable of hosting applications like Apache.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Beowulf clustering architecture
  • Familiarity with PCI slot connectivity and configuration
  • Knowledge of networking concepts, particularly Ethernet and IP addressing
  • Basic skills in server setup and management, specifically with Apache
NEXT STEPS
  • Research Beowulf cluster configuration and management techniques
  • Learn about PCI slot limitations and alternatives for connecting multiple nodes
  • Explore networking setups for DIY servers, focusing on Ethernet configurations
  • Investigate parallel programming techniques and their implementation on Beowulf clusters
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for DIY enthusiasts, computer hardware hobbyists, and developers interested in building low-cost Beowulf clusters for parallel computing and server hosting.

Alex_Sanders
Messages
73
Reaction score
0
Say I can get some used MB with CPU and RAM on it at a very low price, and a DMA 33 hard drive, home made powersource, how am I going to get all thoese MB connected? Using PCI slots? AGP slots? Or para. Ports? USB ports?

Does Beowulf even support HD farm? That would be mind-blowing advance, for old hardwares, that is.

This is my premature understanding:

First, you need a master computer, giving orders through a main bus or something like that to other slave computers, the master computer will allocate the computing task to each of them, then wait and collect the results, PCI should be used to connect each computer, because most boards have more than 1 PCI slots, and the addressing and interrupt is much easier as most ppl use it so the technology relevant should be rather mature.

Only the master computer will have a harddrive, hosting the Beowulf system.

I could be wrong, though, and most likely I'm wrong.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
Is there any reason you couldn't simply use a number of cheap PC's and connect them via a network, such as ethernet cables, all PC connected to a router to assign local IP addresses to each PC's network adapter?

One alternative would be PCI based single board computers. You'd be limited to the number of PCI slots on the main PC.

If the goal is just parallel programming, wouldn't a single PC with a multi-core processor be enough?
 
rcgldr said:
Is there any reason you couldn't simply use a number of cheap PC's and connect them via a network, such as ethernet cables, all PC connected to a router to assign local IP addresses to each PC's network adapter?

One alternative would be PCI based single board computers. You'd be limited to the number of PCI slots on the main PC.

If the goal is just parallel programming, wouldn't a single PC with a multi-core processor be enough?

No, the goal is a DIY server, hosting apache or things like that.
 

Similar threads

Graphics Card and Motherboard Problem
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K
  • Sticky
Getting Started With Computers and Programming
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
8K
Requesting suggestions for languages, libraries, and architectures for parallel (and sometimes non parallel) numerical and scientific computations
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K
STOP: 0x0000008E (0xC000005, 0XBF04DF7B, 0xED924B18 0X000000000)
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
6K