[NTLUG:Discuss] Clustering

[Greg Edwards]

I've got a friend that I finally got to join the list but he's still 
lurking.  I'll get him to speak some day ;)

He was unsure of the term clustering so I thought I'd try and wing a 
general description and let those that know correct my foul-ups.

In general (as I understand it) a cluster is an attempt to make 
resources from a group of computers look like 1 computer to a running 
program.  The cluster may share files and/or memory.  The one thing that 
the cluster cannot share is executing programs.  While the code and 
constant sections could (in theory) be shared it wouldn't be worth the 
effort.

A cluster is generally used to provide load balancing and/or parallel 
computing solutions.  In a load balance solution file usage and access 
is primary while a parallel solution needs memory usage and access to be 
primary.  In either case the programs found on the nodes of the cluster 
are identical (excluding master/slave issues) since the goal is 
essentially a resource bottleneck solution for a single logical process.

Amazon is a good example of where a load balance solution is needed 
while Lucas Studios is a good example where a parallel computing 
solution is needed.

-- 
Greg Edwards
New Age Software, Inc. - http://www.nas-inet.com
======================================================
Galactic Outlaw        - http://goutlaw.nas-inet.com
   The ultimate cyberspace adventure!