>Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 13:46:47 -0400 >From: Roberto Safora <[log in to unmask]> > >What is a cluster? > A cluster is a relatively large number of small computers (such as PCs) which are interconnected with special networking hardware and software in such a way that they can work on large computations -- kind of like a distributed supercomputer, but with much shorter and more efficient interconnections than typical distributed computing over the Internet. According to the magazine Scientific Computing World, typical Linux clusters now run around 1200 machines with a GB or two RAM and a few hundred GB disk space each. There are several types of clustering environments, Beowolf being perhaps one of the best known. I'm sure someone knows a better way of finding references than a Google search! Phil Parker -------------------------------------------- URL http://www.math.twsu.edu/Faculty/Parker/ Random quote for this second: You will be a winner today. Pick a fight with a four-year-old. Visit our website regularly for FAQs, articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more http://freepctech.com