[Beowulf] Good Grid Computing classes?

[Dean Johnson]

On Wed, 2004-08-11 at 16:33, Michael Jastram wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> My employer has an educational assistance program, and I would like to
> learn more about Grid Computing and Clusters, as well as tools like
> Beowulf, Ganglia, PBS, etc.  Can anybody on this list recommend
> classes, or point me to resources?
> 

Placed in this same position, I would "just do it". Get a couple of
machines, which definitely don't have to be cutting edge, and just start
setting the stuff up. Presuming you already have some sort of home
computer, just get a second one and hook them together with a crossover
cable (ie. no need for a switch). Ganglia, PBS, etc don't terribly care
how many nodes you have or how they are connected. Get as bold as you
want with the amount of hardware that you collect. Throw openMOSIX on it
and play around. Do some fun parallel rendering on your setup, as pretty
pictures are always good to justify your effort. Build some molecular
dynamics apps like NAMD and run their benchmarks to set how your gear
stacks up against monster gear.

Personally, the performance envelope that is most entertaining to push
is how much gear I can bring in the house before my wife puts a stop to
it. ;-)

"Honey, I *need* to plug in the dryer for work clothes. Are you just
about done there?"

-- 

	-Dean