node computing/processor sharing

[esmphoto]

Hi!
first post here so please be a little forgiving, I'm looking forward to learning how things run around this particular forum

Now, I'm an editor of photography on a high school yearbook staff and we've just switched over from 12 dell Optiplex workstations to six apple iMacs; the result of which is that we have a surplus of unused dell workstations and a short supply of usable workstations.

What I would like to do is take some of the dells and gang them together in a sort of node computing/resource sharing setup. The specs if I remember on each one are:

3.23ghz intel pentium
512-1024mb ram
onboard video/lan
sata hdd
sata cd-rom
xp pro sp2-3

What I'd like to have is three or four of the optiplexes set up and networked with four monitors and a single keyboard/mouse operating as they would if all four monitors were attached to a single computer with a single desktop extended across them, and if possible the ram/processors to be shared to allow the whole cluster to appear as one, faster computer for grading, photoshop, indesign, etc.

I realize that I would probably have to use linux to make this all work and keep it free but if possible i'd like to keep xp pro as the front end.

any ideas suggestions advice?

thanks!!!
Edward

 

[zombine210]

what you're describing is called a beowulf cluster. however, its not as simple as you might think. for starters you can't use windows or even a mainstream linux distribution. you will need a cluster capable OS. needless to say, it probably wouldn't run photoshop.

here's the LATTE project:

it would still make for a fun project. i would really like to set one up myself, but i don't have a bunch of similar machines laying around. good luck

 

[esmphoto]

rats

I had figured I would need something other that what i was used to, but isn't there a cluster capable distro of unbutu? and I seem to recall a friend of mine showing off his windows cluster, or was that just all smoke and mirrors.

I suppose perhaps the cluster capable versions of unbuntu and windows don't extend that capability to this "beowulf" clustering

I guess I'll probably just end up dropping in a new multi-head graphics card and updating the ram, can't seem to remember whether the dell had PCI-E x16 or PCI-E (2.0) x16 though so I suppose it'll have to wait until Monday or Tuesday.

Yes I have 18 older dell optiplex workstations, 4 newer dell optiplex workstations, one crazy old dell tower, and 6 HP workstations, all with 17" lcds keyboard and mice stacked up in a closet, so I've been wanting to experiment with some clustering, perhaps this summer.