distributed computing

[taylrl]

Is it possible to link my computers so that i can have all of their power comined in one?? I have heard about distributed computing, and was wondering if it was possible to set some sort of system up at home.

[5614]

Yes it is certainly possible.

 

I think you could setup a system whereby each computer takes a percentage of the task and processes that, then the system can combine the results of the processing to get the result. (As opposed to one computer having to do all the processing by itself)

 

Once you have the hardware setup you will need software which can take advantage of it.

[Blunt]

youll have to need some serius computing if it should have any advantage i mean with the 1 transfer limit and stuff but yes as allready statet it is possible

[Dave]

The thing is, it's not all that useful for general usage. The only time you're going to see any benefit from it, in my opinion, is when running big scientific applications or doing something like compiling software (distcc is quite good for this).

[DV8 2XL]

Check out:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf_%28computing%29

[Klaynos]

The thing is, it's not all that useful for general usage. The only time you're going to see any benefit from it, in my opinion, is when running big scientific applications or doing something like compiling software (distcc is quite good for this).

 

Seconded, we use all the computers running macosX to do astrophysics simulations in the physics dept...

 

Cluster computers... There's a version of knoppix that will do it with a group of computers on a LAN if you want a play google for cluster knoppix...