info on windows based clustering???

  • Thread starter Thread starter gothika
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gothika

Anyone here have any experience building Computer clusters using
windows based machines?
Could use some tutoring if so.

Just getting the hardware together to build a small one.
 
Anyone here have any experience building Computer clusters using
windows based machines?
Could use some tutoring if so.

Just getting the hardware together to build a small one.
Click to expand...

Out of the box, Windows clustering only works with custom software and the
windows advanced server class of operating systems. Otherwise you need
some specialized third party software and hardware that is very expensive.
The workstation software, such as WinXP or Win 2kPro will not cluster out
of the box.

There is also the problem of software that will use clustering. Available
Graphics & Video editing software is really just getting comfortable on
multiprocessor machines. The cluster aware software used in studios and
production houses is all Unix/Linux based, with windows only used as a
graphics terminal front end role, although Macs are better at it. Macs
would probably be easier to make do this because of the open source, BSD
based kernel at the core, but even there it would require a lot of work and
probably some money.

Clustering does not mean that you can take a bunch of computers, network
them together, start a program and have it just magically distribute itself
across all the machines in the cluster. It has to be multithreaded, of
course, but there are also communications requirements, data access
problems, etc.. To see what it takes, you would probably want to start with
something like a beowolf cluster using a bunch of linux machines. At least
read the information about the theory and limitations.

JT
 
Thanks for the imput.
I have been pounding the digital gumshoe on this one and have found a
little info on clusters.
I just downloaded a program called PVM 3.4.3 that claims to enable
clustering using any 32bit windows software.(NT, Win2kpro etc...)
I've found a few papers onbasic theory of windows clustering but
really need someone who has hands on experience to walk me through it.
I've found a couple of software package that do video editing on
multithread systems so that's not a problem.

Here ae a few of the links to early cluster work.

http://www.windowsclusters.org/software.htm


http://www.csm.ornl.gov/pvm/


http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/hpc/cluscomp.asp

I've also seen several win2k cluster projects on the web.(Can't get
any to respond to my inquiries, sites are 2-3 years old.)

I'm aware of the limitations in nodes and ultimate transfer rates
using standard ethernet10/100 connections and all.
Still it's gotta be faster than my current setup in video rendering.
and the major consideration is cost, I can't spend any monies on this.
And can't see the sense in buying new technology/equipment for big
dinero when I have a storage room of 2 year old equipment that when
combined will do the job just as well.
Seems everyone has lost site of the orginal concept of cluster, i.e.
0$ cost outlay and recycling of off the shelf old or current hardware.
 
Thanks for the imput.
I have been pounding the digital gumshoe on this one and have found a
little info on clusters.
I just downloaded a program called PVM 3.4.3 that claims to enable
clustering using any 32bit windows software.(NT, Win2kpro etc...)
I've found a few papers onbasic theory of windows clustering but
really need someone who has hands on experience to walk me through it.
I've found a couple of software package that do video editing on
multithread systems so that's not a problem.

Here ae a few of the links to early cluster work.

http://www.windowsclusters.org/software.htm


http://www.csm.ornl.gov/pvm/


http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/hpc/cluscomp.asp

I've also seen several win2k cluster projects on the web.(Can't get
any to respond to my inquiries, sites are 2-3 years old.)

I'm aware of the limitations in nodes and ultimate transfer rates
using standard ethernet10/100 connections and all.
Still it's gotta be faster than my current setup in video rendering.
and the major consideration is cost, I can't spend any monies on this.
And can't see the sense in buying new technology/equipment for big
dinero when I have a storage room of 2 year old equipment that when
combined will do the job just as well.
Seems everyone has lost site of the orginal concept of cluster, i.e.
0$ cost outlay and recycling of off the shelf old or current hardware.
Click to expand...
Multithreading is only one requirement for clustering capable software.You
are really going to have to find custom programmed apps, or do your own.
Adobe premier and the like will not work the way you think on a cluster.

I would still look at the opensource clustering out there that is where the
clustering like you are looking for is happening.

JT
 
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