Logo

Navigation
  • Home
  • Services
    • ERP Solutions
    • Implementation Solutions
    • Support and Maintenance Solutions
    • Custom Solutions
    • Upgrade Solutions
    • Training and Mentoring
    • Web Solutions
    • Production Support
    • Architecture Designing
    • Independent Validation and Testing Services
    • Infrastructure Management
  • Expertise
    • Microsoft Development Expertise
    • Mobile Development
    • SQL Server Database and BI
    • SAP BI, SAP Hana, SAP BO
    • Oracle and BI
    • Oracle RAC
  • Technical Training
    • Learn Data Management
      • Business Intelligence
      • Data Mining
      • Data Modeling
      • Data Warehousing
      • Disaster Recovery
    • Learn Concepts
      • Application Development
      • Client Server
      • Cloud Computing Tutorials
      • Cluster Computing
      • CRM Tutorial
      • EDI Tutorials
      • ERP Tutorials
      • NLP
      • OOPS
      • Concepts
      • SOA Tutorial
      • Supply Chain
      • Technology Trends
      • UML
      • Virtualization
      • Web 2.0
    • Learn Java
      • JavaScript Tutorial
      • JSP Tutorials
      • J2EE
    • Learn Microsoft
      • MSAS
      • ASP.NET
      • ASP.NET 2.0
      • C Sharp
      • MS Project Training
      • Silverlight
      • SQL Server 2005
      • VB.NET 2005
    • Learn Networking
      • Networking
      • Wireless
    • Learn Oracle
      • Oracle 10g
      • PL/SQL
      • Oracle 11g Tutorials
      • Oracle 9i
      • Oracle Apps
    • Learn Programming
      • Ajax Tutorial
      • C Language
      • C++ Tutorials
      • CSS Tutorial
      • CSS3 Tutorial
      • JavaScript Tutorial
      • jQuery Tutorial
      • MainFrame
      • PHP Tutorial
      • VBScript Tutorial
      • XML Tutorial
    • Learn Software Testing
      • Software Testing Types
      • SQA
      • Testing
  • Career Training
    • Career Improvement
      • Career Articles
      • Certification Articles
      • Conflict Management
      • Core Skills
      • Decision Making
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Goal Setting
      • Life Skills
      • Performance Development
      • Personal Excellence
      • Personality Development
      • Problem Solving
      • Relationship Management
      • Self Confidence
      • Self Supervision
      • Social Networking
      • Strategic Planning
      • Time Management
    • Education Help
      • Career Tracks
      • Essay Writing
      • Internship Tips
      • Online Education
      • Scholarships
      • Student Loans
    • Managerial Skills
      • Business Communication
      • Business Networking
      • Facilitator Skills
      • Managing Change
      • Marketing Management
      • Meeting Management
      • Process Management
      • Project Management
      • Project Management Life Cycle
      • Project Management Process
      • Project Risk Management
      • Relationship Management
      • Task Management
      • Team Building
      • Virtual Team Management
    • Essential Life Skills
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety Management
      • Attitude Development
      • Coaching and Mentoring
      • Emotional Intelligence
      • Stress Management
      • Positive Thinking
    • Communication Skills
      • Conversation Skills
      • Cross Culture Competence
      • English Vocabulary
      • Listening Skills
      • Public Speaking Skills
      • Questioning Skills
    • Soft Skills
      • Assertive Skills
      • Influence Skills
      • Leadership Skills
      • Memory Skills
      • People Skills
      • Presentation Skills
    • Finding a Job
      • Etiquette Tips
      • Group Discussions
      • HR Interviews
      • Interview Notes
      • Job Search Tips
      • Resume Tips
      • Sample Resumes
 

Cluster Supercomputer

By Exforsys | on October 3, 2009 |
Cluster Computing

The addition of nodes to build a cluster to support file sharing, functions, applications and websites all point to one thing – building a supercomputer. The collection of nodes that would eventually form a cluster would be part of something bigger which could easily support almost any type of workload without showing any signs of downtime.

The idea of preventing single point of failure, adding monitoring and measurement tools and even considering the external factors that might jeopardize infrastructure are also small parts towards the ultimate goal of building a supercomputer that will not post any problems while computing.

Hardware Considerations

The first thing administrators or developers would consider in building a supercomputer for varied interests is to have the right hardware.

• Processors – building a supercomputer is just including a dual-core processor so that it could provide better processing speed. There are companies who have custom designed nodes wherein the boards can include two or more processors which could run in full speed at the same time.

• Inclusion of GPU – although this was first thought to be used for gaming purposes, GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) are now being introduced to boost the processing speed. With the addition of right connectors, GPU could easily improve the performance of the cluster. A good example is when Iraq was suspected to be building supercomputers by buying PlayStation 2.

• Memory – Processors and GPU would still need the help of an efficient memory (RAM) if they wanted to use the cluster for application processing.

Applications for Supercomputer

Even though you have the best hardware for a supercomputer through clustering, you will still need to have the right application to ensure the clusters are working together.

• OS (Operating System) – The operating system suggests the environment of the cluster and their configuration will suggest how the nodes will interact with each other. It doesn’t matter what OS the user opts to use in accessing files or requesting functions. What is important is that the OS is flexible enough to adapt to different environments and user demands. Because of the needed flexibility and stability, the most popular OS today for clustering is powered by Linux and UNIX.

• Applications – Supporting the operating system is the applications that will enable communication and interaction of nodes. Applications based on MPI are currently one of the most recognized set of applications that could easily implement the specific administrator commands. MPI (Message Passing Interface) could be used by programming developers to build their clustering application so that it would fit based on their need. Microsoft, Open Source and Linux also have separate offerings but they still include some libraries based on MPI.

• Tools – aside from applications that could run the clusters, additional tools should be integrated to ensure continuous operation. Measurement and monitoring tools are very important to be integrated in clusters and nodes since they provide the much needed timely or even real time feedback to administrators in case one of the nodes fails to perform per expectation.

Keeping up with the Times

The biggest challenge any business would face when they are opting to build a highly efficient clustering system is the evolving technology. Hardware that is deemed powerful today might not yield the same efficiency two years from today.

This is actually not the fault of the business or the hardware but technology whether hardware and software, is rapidly evolving. This would mean constant funding from the business if they wanted to keep up with the latest in technology. Proper planning is also required to avoid too much spending on upgrades.

User Specific

Businesses don’t just develop a powerful clustering system for their use. Like any business plans, clustering has to be done with careful planning and even the possibility of ROI (return on investment) on the part of users. The amount spent in developing clusters and improving nodes should have at least an indirect impact on the improvement of the user experience.

Without the end user in mind, excessive spending on upgrades could happen as the upgrades may not be applicable because of incompatibility. Clustering should be geared towards improvement of user experience which will greatly benefit the company as they offer ease of transaction and improved customer experience.

« « Linux Thin Client Networks Design and Deployment
Why Meetings are Important » »

Author Description

Avatar

Editorial Team at Exforsys is a team of IT Consulting and Training team led by Chandra Vennapoosa.

Free Training

RSSSubscribe 391 Followers
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • Clusters – Monitoring and Measurement

    September 18, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Load Balancing Clustering

    September 25, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • GPU Clusters

    September 21, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Clustering Security

    September 22, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Clustering on P2P

    September 24, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Compute Clusters and Grid Computing

    September 29, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • High Availability Clustering

    September 28, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Infrastructure Consideration in Clustering

    September 27, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Introduction to Clustering

    September 16, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Two-Node Clusters

    September 30, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Clustering through Server Farms

    October 1, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Two-Node Clusters

    September 30, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Compute Clusters and Grid Computing

    September 29, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • High Availability Clustering

    September 28, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Infrastructure Consideration in Clustering

    September 27, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Load Balancing Clustering

    September 25, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Clustering on P2P

    September 24, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Clustering Security

    September 22, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • GPU Clusters

    September 21, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Machine Clustering

    September 20, 2009 - 0 Comment

Exforsys e-Newsletter

ebook
 

Related Articles

  • Clustering through Server Farms
  • Two-Node Clusters
  • Compute Clusters and Grid Computing
  • High Availability Clustering
  • Infrastructure Consideration in Clustering

Latest Articles

  • Project Management Techniques
  • Product Development Best Practices
  • Importance of Quality Data Management
  • How to Maximize Quality Assurance
  • Utilizing Effective Quality Assurance Strategies
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Trademark Information
  • Contact Us
© 2023. All Rights Reserved.IT Training and Consulting
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT