Beowulf cluster: Difference between revisions
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'''Beowulf''' is a design for high-performance [[parallel computing]] clusters ([[HPPC cluster]]) on inexpensive personal computer hardware. Originally developed by Thomas L. Sterling and Donald Becker at NASA, Beowulf systems are now deployed worldwide, chiefly in support of [[scientific computing]]. | '''Beowulf''' is a design for high-performance [[parallel computing]] clusters ([[HPPC cluster]]) on inexpensive personal computer hardware. Originally developed by Thomas L. Sterling and Donald Becker at NASA, Beowulf systems are now deployed worldwide, chiefly in support of [[scientific computing]]. | ||
A Beowulf cluster is a group of usually identical [[computer|PC computers]] | A Beowulf cluster is a group of usually identical [[computer|PC computers]] operating in [[parallel computing|parallel]]. Usually the Beowulf 'nodes' are running [[Linux]],<ref name="Beowulf Project Overview">{{cite web | ||
| url=http://www.beowulf.org/overview/index.html | |||
| title="Beowulf Project Overview" | |||
| date= Retreived 08-April-2007 | |||
}}</ref> however this is not required, as both [[Mac OS X]] and [[FreeBSD]] clusters have been created.<ref name="OSX Beowulf">{{cite web | |||
| url=http://www.stat.ucla.edu/computing/clusters/deployment.php | |||
| title="Mac OS X Beowulf Cluster Deployment Notes" | |||
| date= Retreived 08-April-2007 | |||
}}</ref><ref name="OSX Beowulf Deployment">{{cite web | |||
| url=http://docs.huihoo.com/hpc-cluster/mini-wulf/ | |||
| title="A small Beowulf Cluster running FreeBSD" | |||
| date= Retreived 08-April-2007 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
The [[nodes]] in a Beowulf cluster are [[computer network|networked]] into a small TCP/IP [[LAN]], and have libraries and programs installed which allow processing to be shared among them. | |||
There is no particular piece of software that defines a cluster as a Beowulf. Commonly used parallel processing libraries include MPI (Message Passing Interface) and PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine). Both of these permit the programmer to divide a task among a group of [[computer network|networked computers]], and recollect the results of processing. It is a common misconception that any software will run faster on a Beowulf. The software must be re-written to take advantage of the cluster, and specifically have multiple non-dependent parallel computations involved in its execution. | There is no particular piece of software that defines a cluster as a Beowulf. Commonly used parallel processing libraries include MPI (Message Passing Interface) and PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine). Both of these permit the programmer to divide a task among a group of [[computer network|networked computers]], and recollect the results of processing. It is a common misconception that any software will run faster on a Beowulf. The software must be re-written to take advantage of the cluster, and specifically have multiple non-dependent parallel computations involved in its execution. | ||
The name | The name Beowulf is derived from the main character in the Old English epic [[Beowulf]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:Computers Workgroup]] | [[Category:Computers Workgroup]] | ||
Revision as of 15:44, 8 April 2007
Beowulf is a design for high-performance parallel computing clusters (HPPC cluster) on inexpensive personal computer hardware. Originally developed by Thomas L. Sterling and Donald Becker at NASA, Beowulf systems are now deployed worldwide, chiefly in support of scientific computing.
A Beowulf cluster is a group of usually identical PC computers operating in parallel. Usually the Beowulf 'nodes' are running Linux,[1] however this is not required, as both Mac OS X and FreeBSD clusters have been created.[2][3]
The nodes in a Beowulf cluster are networked into a small TCP/IP LAN, and have libraries and programs installed which allow processing to be shared among them.
There is no particular piece of software that defines a cluster as a Beowulf. Commonly used parallel processing libraries include MPI (Message Passing Interface) and PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine). Both of these permit the programmer to divide a task among a group of networked computers, and recollect the results of processing. It is a common misconception that any software will run faster on a Beowulf. The software must be re-written to take advantage of the cluster, and specifically have multiple non-dependent parallel computations involved in its execution.
The name Beowulf is derived from the main character in the Old English epic Beowulf.
References
- ↑ "Beowulf Project Overview" (Retreived 08-April-2007).
- ↑ "Mac OS X Beowulf Cluster Deployment Notes" (Retreived 08-April-2007).
- ↑ "A small Beowulf Cluster running FreeBSD" (Retreived 08-April-2007).