Beowulf For Dummies? 122
Pheno writes: "This looks like a fun LUG project. A simple setup for a Linux cluster called OSCAR from the Open Cluster Group. The people behind it are Oak Ridge National Labs and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and some private companies. According to this Newsforge (part of the Keiretsu) story their 'Supercomputer on a CD' software is supposed to make it so easy to put a Beowulf cluster together a high school student or MCSE can do it in a few hours."
"Beowulf for MCSEs" another fine Dummies book = ) (Score:1)
Re:*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:1)
One of the first rules of karma whoring is to bash Microsoft and praise Linux whenever possible. I frequently see non-flamebait comments supporting Microsoft moderated down. (not necessarily to -1, but you see them in the moderation totals). Whenever I post a comment supporting Microsoft, I post as AC to avoid losing karma. When I have moderator points, I almost never modeterate Microsoft-supporting comments up out of fear of metamoderation, and never moderate down trolls that bash Microsoft support Linux, knowing that everyone else will moderate it up as Funny. I know which direction a post like this is going. (3rd rule of karma whoring: state that you are going to be moderated down for this)
Re:QED (Score:1)
You're just jealous... (Score:1)
Burn.
Re:Then reword the title if you prefer (Score:1)
Ignorance and stupidity are not the same thing. A high school student -- or someone who has only dealt with Windows OS -- who wants to explore Linux clustering is almost certainly not stupid. This person is looking to expand his or her understanding of networking and computing.
Personally, I think the idea of giving people who are bright, but have never set up a Linux cluster before, simple software tools to get started in this area is marvelous. Once they master the basics, they can move on to more advanced, more complex admin methods.
And another thing - in the original article, a big reason mentioned for making simpler clustering software is that it helps eliminate the tedium of setting up machine after machine, all with the same configuration. This is A Good Thing for people of any skill level.
- Robin
This is pretty much useless (Score:1)
Re:Imagine... (Score:1)
It'd probably use something like this for its logo. [despair.com]
(Interestingly, I have that exact picture in my office...)
--Joe--
My concern (Score:1)
Re:*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:1)
Just because I got my MCSE by studying the little red Exam Cram books for a week before I took the tests doesn't mean they are simple.
I mean, just because I got a score of 800 on the IIS 4.0 test without ever having used the product before doesn't mean the MCSE is a worthless certification (that was my lowest score).
For the record - I've been Microsoft free for two years. It's a liberating feeling.
Re:What this article is really about... (Score:1)
Surely they aren't idiots if they use linux.
Muhaha! That's rich. This guy should get a +1 Funny. Yeah, like people using linux can't be idiots. Best joke I've heard all day.
Of course, that's not saying that all linux users are idiots. Many (I'd say "most", but that'd be generalizing too much, and would also be incorrect based on empirical evidence of my own) are not. But many are. These include the kind that won't read books or documentation or man pages, and expect everything to be spoon-fed to them. To paraphrase a smart guy I know, "Give a man a fish and he'll insult you and leave. Teach a man to fish and he'll complain about just wanting the fish and you owing him one. This is the Linux Experience."
Re:I've worked with a few MCSE's (Score:1)
And we begin to get a glimpse of what's been going on in Redmond this week...
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Re:Finally... (Score:1)
- 1 comment
below your current threshold.Hey (Score:1)
Any dummy can make a beowulf cluster.
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Re:ALL type of certification is stupid. (Score:1)
And I believe that the word you are looking for is incite [m-w.com], not entice [m-w.com]...
--
You think being a MIB is all voodoo mind control? You should see the paperwork!
Re: (Score:1)
What are they going to do with it? (Score:1)
Oh, please (Score:1)
Re:MCSE bashing...not fair (Score:1)
Oh and ... it was a joke. lighten up.
Re:bash them more! (Score:1)
Wouldn't that be? (Score:1)
Ignorant Redundance?
"Everything you know is wrong. (And stupid.)"
Re: Confessions of an MCSE (Score:1)
Re:You're just jealous... (Score:1)
In all seriousness, though, it sounds like this could be useful for small upstarts who need serious processing power, but don't have the budget to have a dedicated person to build and maintain a cluster.
It's also gotta be helpful for those of us who are interested in clusters, but don't have the spare time to devote to figuring it all out. It's not a "do all" solution, but it will help.
Re:*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:1)
While the above is funny, I don't think it is true all around.
Re:*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:1)
http://www.osdn.com/ad_contacts.shtml [osdn.com]
Let them know what you think.
Just what we need (Score:1)
MSCE... (Score:1)
--
Eric is chisled like a Greek Godess
Re:Project: EFFECT (Score:1)
Re:Project: EFFECT (Score:1)
as for this comment:
It's a good thing you went to that smug elitist school, I wonder if the project lost interest because the student body was more interested in getting drunk and laid (as any high school student should god damn it).
All I can say is, I give my eternal praise to Slashdot - there's more wisdom here in a day than most places see in a year ;).
Re:Only half of the problem... (Score:1)
This will also allow developers to write applications designed for clusters with at least some chance that other people will be able to use them. I have always wanted to run distributed neural nets on a Beowulf cluster, and now I'll actually be able to do it! Woo-hoo!
Re:I am deeply insulted (Score:1)
High School (Score:1)
My school uses Linux exclusively. Blender for 3D, Gimp for art, StarOffice, KDE.
I set up a beowulf cluster and had it running within three days (two classes plus some extra time).
We're not stupid. MSCE's might be stupid. But I am sho' nuff not. Don't say stupid things,
Re:I am deeply insulted (Score:1)
The Slashdot crew did not add the remark about high school students - they just added the bit about MCSE. (Given the hundreds of MCSEs that have applied for some positions at work on the basis that they have an MCSE but no IT experience, this dig is totally understandable...)
Chill out!
bash them more! (Score:1)
They stole many talented people's ideas, fortunes and futures to feed their shareholders.
Everytime someone uses a Microsoft product, another bit of freedom and democracy dies.
Fortunately, some day, maybe no in my lifetime, your piece of shit corporation and product will get exactly what it deserves...elimination from the public splotlight and the marketplace, and relegated to history as the "Yugo" of science and technology.
Re:MCSE bashing...not fair (Score:1)
Have you grepped Google for "dumb motherfucker"?
Highschool vs. MCSEs (Score:1)
Cheers
Re:MSCE... (Score:1)
It's applying what one reads, but then again, if you ever looked into one of those....
Hertog
Beowolf cluster of VMWare machines (Score:1)
Idea: set this up on my 3 different VMWare Linux virtual boxes.
That raises a good point... (Score:1)
Re:Scyld Beowulf has been available since ALS (Score:1)
OSCAR is built in the more classic style of clustering, by building the distribution on top of the kernel. As such, it's an interesting and useful effort.
Scyld and OSCAR are really complimentary efforts. They make different assumptions and take completely different approaches.
Certs are stupid, OK (Score:1)
Or is this Yet Another Microsoft Bash?
Seriously Slashdot fuck up with this crap already.
Linux IS better, we all know it. MCSEs are just learning the ropes. They are no stupider than you were when you were trying to rename a file for the first time. (mv?)
michael (the guy who "wrote" the
I have one, I don't feel dumber for the experience, but I do feel about 20K richer!
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Re:MCSE bashing...not fair (Score:1)
Re:Imagine... (Score:1)
It already exists...last I heard it consisted of the House of Representatives and Senate.
(You knew someone would make this comparison sooner or later, didn't you? C'mon, didn't you...?)
Sure it is... (Score:1)
Okay, fine by me. (Score:1)
Re:Okay, fine by me. (Score:1)
Re:*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:1)
Re:QED (Score:1)
Nice to know I can set up a Windows 2000, Linux, -and- Windows 98 network in a few hours. :) Now if only my video card was supported by QNX...
Re:Yeah Right... (Score:1)
That's why I shut the hell up. :)
My boss is an MCSE... (Score:1)
I suppose in some cases the MCSE is worth a bit more than it might seem. I sure know I hate navigating through the maze of crap that is a Microsoft OS. You -need- a certificate to clean up that kind of mess. Linux/unix seems so logical it's just easier.
Finally... (Score:1)
Re:Finally... (Score:1)
Re:Finally... (Score:1)
Re:PF (Score:1)
Re:Yeah Right... (Score:1)
So, mods, this is a troll, right? Okay. Just so we're clear. :)
8 Posts, 0 Karma. Keepin' the Faith.
SETI@home (Score:1)
Would a Beowulf cluster speed up Seti@home [berkeley.edu]? What would be the best implementation?
If there's a reason to build a small cluster, I'd say it'd be seti.
____________________
Re:PF (Score:1)
And besides, there's really nothing wrong with that. Read Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintainence.
"Nothing is often a good thing to do, and almost always the right thing to say." -- Will Durant
Also, watch Office Space. 99% of us here who make any sort of money have jobs just like those characters. You're not missing much.
And for God's sake, listening to Pink Floyd when you're depressed is like washing down the valium with vodka. Throw on some Rush or something that will lift your spirits.
Can you imagine? (Score:1)
Oh, and that should be high school students, MCSE's, and slashdot "journalists".
Can you imagine... (Score:1)
--
Re:SETI@home (Score:1)
--
Re:QED (Score:1)
Lets compare apples to apples, I'm a linux user so i am skilled at both typeing and clicking the mouse. Therefore i can vim my
At the root of it all (pun intended) is concepts, if you can understand how SMB works based upon domains and workgroups, you can set it up in either environment, it just depends on how easy that environment make it. Linux is less userfriendly (right now) to people who do not understand the underling concepts.
besides, no one can set up a windows 2000 network in just a few hours, it takes a few hours just to install windows and secure it down to the point where you can configure it for your network.
Or do you jsut install it and trust Microsoft's defaults, i hope not, that's just being uninformed.
Re:MCSE bashing...not fair (Score:1)
Re:*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:1)
Re:could you imagine? (Score:1)
Can you imagine a Beowulf cluster of the posts that ask if you can imagine a Beowulf cluster of something?
Re:*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:1)
That's funny.....journalistic integrity and Slashdot.....
MCSE can do it in a few hours (Score:1)
Imagine... (Score:1)
Nah, I take that back. Nothing's worse than stupid people in large groups sharing their stupidity.
OT Re:PF (Score:1)
There is not a man in the world who has not pissed his life away doing nothing. You and each of us are to the galaxy the equivilant of one atom in one grain of sand among all the beaches of the world. What's the use then? Unlike that one atom, you are literate and can wield a BR tag. You can get drunk, and you can rock. Who fsking cares about anything else? Learn a good multiplayer game. There is always some community, and that is the only reason anyone chooses to remain alive on this Earth. Your pals are just too damn intertaining, and they appreciate you: even if it's just fizpuppy3902 on acrophobia.com
This has been a public service.
hmmm..... (Score:1)
I'll go you one better (Score:1)
... A dude who has WRITTEN and PASSED the Microsoft Visual Basic "Desktop" exam needed help understanding the concept of an array.
I'm not kidding around - not only could he not effectively implement an array in BASIC, but he couldn't understand how it would be useful.
That's enough to make my skin crawl. Hopefully we can steer him away from a career developing hospital equipment control software.
Now, before you crack me for MCS* bashing, keep in mind that I am one. I think that's why I drink so much.
Re:MCSE bashing...not fair (Score:1)
i have two WinNT 4 Clusters running and its just some stupid failover thing, and even that doesnt work correctly....MS Exchange Server crashes then i have to reboot the A node, then its failes over to the B node, and if i am lucky when the A node is back up i can fail it back....this process takes about about an hour of my time. Clustering WooHoo....
Nice sly attack at M$ (Score:2)
Then reword the title if you prefer (Score:2)
"Any retard could do it"
There. Happy now?
Re:QED (Score:2)
since the average windows 2000 user is not capable of setting up a windows 2000 network in a few hours either, this proves that Windows users are not smarter than Linux users.
Zetetic
Seeking; proceeding by inquiry.
Elench
A specious but fallacious argument; a sophism.
Webserver(was Re:I am deeply insulted) (Score:2)
I do recommend installing ncftp though.
Basically, unselect all and install in GUI mode on one machine (better help in the GUI). Note what packages you are installing, and install them on your webserver. (except the X packages, of course).
Then go to a Redhat mirror and download your updates: bash, csh (ksh also if you installed it), libc, kernel, apache (bind if you are installing a nameserver also, even if just a caching nameserver). Also download ssh and openssl rpms (and the rpm packages from there -- openssl depends on the rpm-devel rpm.).
If you need to install php, download those updates as well).
rpm -U *.rpm in the downloads directory.
Then just init 1, init 3 and you are done [Just to be safe].
This should take about one hour, for a reasonably fast download line. (I have done it in 35 minutes, but I have some experience).
Its not hard to setup a webserver, but making it a secure machine is a lot tougher.
Also, if you need to setup a ftp server, do *not* use wu-ftpd. I personally use proftpd from CVS, and if youwant to try it out, the OpenBSD ftp port also has been recommended.
Set up another machine with compilers and libraries on it, so you can compile stuff.
Here is how you can install stuff that you have to compile:
download the source on the development machine.
./configure;make
This gives you the necessary binaries in the directory (or sub directories) where the source was compiled. Copy
Remove the installation binary directory, and you are done.
Re:Sure it is... (Score:2)
College student eh? (Score:2)
Re:Only half of the problem... (Score:2)
Now I wouldn't consider myself a master programmer or sysadmin. I can do very basic C/C++ programming and I can get a basic idea of what some code is doing if I study it for a while. I've also set up things like Samba/NFS/ipmasq and some other things. However, I do NOT consider myself capable of installing them. Why? Because I've only installed packages and commented out some lines in config files. Most of the network services in my distro of choice, Slackware, are setup by default. I didn't do anything to get them to work. The creators of the packages did most of the hard work. Even the source I have to compile is infinitely easier with autoconfig (./configure, make, make install occasionally some more work is involved). At most, I follow some of their examples in the config files.
Now, I don't want to spend the time to learn how to setup a machine from scratch, either. However, I think that, in the end, the struggle will pay off. That reminds me of my physics professor from the last physics class I took. One of the things he said on his syllabus was that the exams would be more focused around the struggle to solve the problem than the algebra. In this case, the struggle around how to set up a cluster and what to think about would be the major learning experience. You can learn how to install Linux and build a computer without a cluster.
So, this may make the task easier, but I would not recommend it to someone who is interested in learning. Well, it could be nice just for a short project. But if you want to say that you know how to set up a Beowulf cluster, I don't think this sounds like a good idea. Most of the knowledge you'd learn from building a cluster would arise from the things you'd have to struggle with (MPI/PVM coding, for instance).
It's probably been said before by some famous person, but I'll recall the saying that comes to mind: He who makes no mistakes learns nothing. (If this project makes cluster-building as foolproof as it sounds, it will only be beneficial to those who've already set up a cluster and know what's giong on.)
Most people don't realise how easy it is. (Score:2)
I've wanted to build a cluster for a long time. I was given that chance at school & work. School(U of C [ucalgary.ca]) allowed me to do it as a term project that is still ongoing. Work allowed me to use a pile of spare machines that were waiting for new users.
So, early one Saturday morning, I sit down with the O'Reilley book "Building Linux Clusters" and the CD that came with it. I followed the instructions in the book, and was frustrated beyond belief. The CD contained all the Beowulf software that was required. The downside was that the software had all been thrown over top of Red Hat 6.2. Being the second time I had ever installed Red Hat, I wasn't sure what the magic sequence was to get everything to work.
I first had problems with unsupported video cards... I tried 3 different cards. Each time, I needed to re-install Red Hat. Why wouldn't it let me install all the drivers for all the cards?
DHCP? Why? You only need to set the IPs once. Don't force me to do this... oh wait, I don't know Red Hat's weird config script structure... sigh.
The book mentioned nothing about re-compiling the kernel. But, in order to add support for the network cards, this is what I needed to do. Oh wait, where are the kernel sources?
This is when I got sick of this "wonderful" Beowulf CD.
I went to Slackware 7.1.
Installed it on the master no problem. Enabled frame buffer support for the video card so that it would work on ANY video card. Enabled native support for the network cards I was using.
Next step, I went to THE beowulf site [beowulf-underground.org], did a search for PVM and PVMPOV. I downloaded all the source code I needed.
Now, without the help of the book, I was at a bit of a loss. Luckily, there was this site that explained EVERY STEP in about a page and a half. The how-to [wwu.edu] was written by Christopher Johnson and I must say, he did an excellent job. I found only one thing that was lacking, you may also need to set PVM_DPATH=/home/pvm3/lib/pvmd in your profile.
Now the purpose behind all of this was to get PVMPOV running, well, with a little searching, I was able to find everything I needed here [www.luga.de].
Conclusions:
Use a Linux distro you are used to.
Get a book if you want to know the theory.
Always remember that some PVM Books [utk.edu] are free.
I hope this will help someone out there.
Beware TPB
No, n0, nO, NO (Score:2)
go see the movie "chocolat" instead. it's pretty good.
then take a music or acting class or something. many people with strong emotions/feelings do well at things like that.
it might be fun!!
MCSE bashing...not fair (Score:2)
Clustering is complex, and the design decisions behind implementing one are complex, regardless of architecture or OS issues. When you consider how few people in the world even ever have the proper hardware to implement clustering (and don't preach about cheap PC's and Linux as an easy entrance..shared storage in a clustered environment is hard & expensive to do at home), it becomes totally unnecessary to take potshots at where/how they obtained their training.
What this article is really about... (Score:2)
"I know it's probably a bit too much to expect journalistic integrity out of a site like Slashdot, but can you at least consider the possibility of perhaps posting at least one story that isn't chock-full of anti Microsoft/MCSE bigotry? In case you've forgotten, Slashdot has a huge readership, and you're likely to alienate a large percentage of that readership (and by extension, a large percentage of your banner ad viewership) with statements like the one you make about MCSEs. Has anybody ever explained the meaning of the word "objectivity" to you?
Sure, it's true that Microsoft includes a handkerchief with MCSE certificates so that graduates can wipe the drool off the corners of their mouths. Sure, MCSEs sometimes put their shoes on the wrong feet. Sure, they sometimes have difficulty remembering their middle names. But does any of that justify the sort of blind prejudice that you display in this article? The fact the the certificate is a useless piece of paper that will be obsolete in six months is no excuse for you to lash out at MCSEs the way that you have. "
Wow, what a good person it takes to stand up for generalizing people that way. Such people are surely deserving of the Noble Peace Award. It apparently also gives moderators the chance to mod trolls up +3 funny for MCSE dirt.
Saddly you would think that
It seems like
Only half of the problem... (Score:2)
Nevertheless, this is an incredibly interesting, and cool, idea....
Re:Confessions of an MCSE (Score:2)
I am in your debt.
Re:MCSE bashing...not fair (Score:2)
Umm... well, that's the whole point. This is an announcement of software that would make it EASY to set up a cluster, so that one who is young or one who is trained in a foreign OS can set it up without too much trouble. Where's the bashing of MCSEs that you speak of? Unless they don't know that they are trained in Windows...
Sheesh, stop trolling.
Re:I don't know. (Score:2)
My mantra.
Re:could you imagine? (Score:2)
I dunno.. (Score:2)
Steven
Re:I am deeply insulted (Score:2)
I'm in the 10th grade, and our MCSE quit because he was so stupid.
Now we have some senior that thinks he know what he's doing, but just thinks its cool the fool around on the servers and mess stuff up. I don't know much about winNT, but I know it shouldn't be down more than once a week. I asked him if he had ever thought of using Linux or *BSD on the boxes, and he just stared at me like "Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel" and asked what that was?
We had some program for typing in the Typing Lab, called NewDeal, which sucked, I sugested Abiword or StarOffice, or switching to Linux and using KOffice. He just said he was happy with NewDeal, even though the Typing teacher was begging the guy to get something else. So basicaly he was afraid to get out of his range of knowledge.
Anywho, I have access to a pentiom 120, and some 486's, how hard and how long do you think this would take to setup as a webserver?
Re:I don't know. (Score:2)
I only wish an open mind would accompany an open source.
Dan
QED (Score:2)
As if we needed proof.
--
Re:Finally... (Score:2)
could you imagine? (Score:3)
I don't know. (Score:3)
You expect too much of MCSEs.
*sigh* MCSE bashing (Score:3)
Sure, it's true that Microsoft includes a handkerchief with MCSE certificates so that graduates can wipe the drool off the corners of their mouths. Sure, MCSEs sometimes put their shoes on the wrong feet. Sure, they sometimes have difficulty remembering their middle names. But does any of that justify the sort of blind prejudice that you display in this article? The fact the the certificate is a useless piece of paper that will be obsolete in six months is no excuse for you to lash out at MCSEs the way that you have.
Shame on you.
Project: EFFECT (Score:3)
Suffield Academy [suffieldacademy.org] students, myself included (once upon a time, that is), attempted this about two years ago with PROJECT:EFFECT (sadly, the website is now-defunct). The goal of the project was to demonstrate that clustered supercomputing was an extremely viable, which we tried to prove by assembling a cluster of our own - from donated parts!
Anyhow, enough of me rolling in the past; just wanted to be an old man for a sec and yell "It's been done before, ya punks!!".
root_dev_X
bear with me, the sig is old....
I am deeply insulted (Score:3)
I, as a high school student, this comparison leaves me deeply insulted by this jab at our collective intelligence. This is an unfair and cheap shot at us, and as a 10th grader, I demand an apology from the Slashdot crew! Hell, the MCSE at my school was panicking after tech support for the firewall-in-a-box got him to cut off the web cam from outside access. Five minutes and a few remote logins to the firewall and webcam later, I had it all fixed up. Gimme a break.
I've worked with a few MCSE's (Score:4)
I was a System Administrator for a small (but growing) company - we had approx. 15 computers, most of them running Windows 3.11 (this was a few years ago..)
He came to me one day, said he was upgrading one of the stations to Windows95, and asked what the IP address for the station in shipping/receiving was.. so I told him. He came back a few minutes later, and said that the IP I gave him was wrong, because Windows said that the IP address was in use.. I was in the middle of something, so I told him I'd come see him in 10 minutes.
So I'm on my way to see him, I walk through the shipping area, and the computer is there, and someone is using it, so I figure he's figured out the problem he had with the address..
An hour later, he comes up to me and asks if I'd forgotten about him.. I told him that I saw the station running..
He says "Yes, but I'm gonna replace it, I have the new machine all set up on the network, but when I put in it's IP address, it doesn't work because it says another machine is using that address."
To which I reply "Of course it doesn't work, the old station is still running!"
His reply: "Oh, is that important?"
MCSE's are generally people who aren't smart enough to get a job with other skills.
The real... (Score:4)
Confessions of an MCSE (Score:4)
Once upon a midnight quite particularly dreary
Since I chanced upon a net node that illuminated clearly
How to scrounge and hack together former CPU's that yearly
lose all function and so merely
waste the space upon your floor,
Since I chanced upon this web site that had promised so much more,
for the price of a For Dummy's book and a drive to the all-night store,
(for we all know that King Amazon ships slowly from off-shore),
then I swallowed hard, and knowing that what sleep I'd had before
would have to do for a day or two, as I readied to explore
this strange book, why then, astonished, on the cover this I saw:
How too bild a Beowulf clust-or
I dropped my jaw. What's the meaning of a spelling that so liberally spews
anti-publishing convention, anti-literally views
as early as the title-page?! With what shall I excuse
such an idiotic purchase?....or is it but a rouse
through the value of its shocking to get you to peruse
its contents? Who can know? I turned the page.
A CD-ROM! How helpful! I checked my former rage.
Reading on, I noticed these directions for the disk:
"Put it in, and execute drive-letter-setup-exec.
But do so at your personal and solitary risk."
That is all.
Alright, I said, that's clear enough, and further then I read.
but instead of more instructions, there was the same, in Spanish instead.
On I flipped, through German, French, and Chinese simplified
on through Russian, Japanese and Netherlandy Dutch beside,
on I flipped through all the Slavics, nay, all Indo-European
languages, then other groups, like Ugro-finnish Hungarean,
On through japanese, swahili, even African Tschadide
as escape I vainly tried,
but there was no end, until, at last, I reached: About the Authors.
So was this some get-rich scam meant but to fill the writers' coffers?
No returns on midnight offers.
Well, I sighed and looked again at that mysterious cd
I guess it could not hurt just to browse it for to see
whether any use in it at all there actually can be.
So I popped it in the drive-door,
browsed on over, and, well, gee:
One file was all there was: setup-dot-e-x-e.
Six hundred megs. I switched from root
to users more restricted
I went and clicked the execute
clutter-clutter, on it shifted!
my cd-rom, up,up it sped
my hard-drive whirled, and flashed its red
my system cluttered, clunked, and crappled,
as with this "huge" file it grappled
(what, you really don't suppose,
that the system slowness these expose,
isn't natural with the computer speed woes
that only clustering overthrows?)
So it thrashed and scuttled, a quarter hour,
When with an effort it found the power
to treat this MCSE dummy to an explanation
of why he could not yet achieve his clustering elation:
"OS not supported"
It dutifully reported.
Now it doesn't take my well-earned MCSE
To realize that Linux is bullshitting me
Windows 2000, you see,
Is our hallmark, it supports damn near every
worthwhile application:
And this then was my salvation.
At 4 AM I concluded
The merits of clustering had been refuted.
Scyld Beowulf has been available since ALS (Score:5)
Our distribution is considerably more sophisticated than what OSCAR is attempting to do. The advances have lead to a simpler system to install and run.
Our distribution CD may be used as an install disk for the cluster master, or after 20 seconds it automatically boots the machine as a cluster slave and tries to contact a master. Once the master has been installed (about 20 minutes), each slave takes only a few seconds to join the cluster.
Look for our demos at LinuxWorld Expo next week, and our latest distribution is now available for $2 from LinuxCentral.com. You don't have to wait weeks or months for a less capable OSCAR system.