[Beowulf] Cluster Metrics? (Upper management view)

[Alan Louis Scheinine]

The measure of a cluster depends on how it is intended to be used.
Big computer centers tend to measure the percentage of time the CPUs
are running jobs.  In contrast, if a cluster is used for program develop
there must be idle CPUs in order to reduce that wait time, keeping in
mind when people want computer power is not uniform.  Wait time that
delays program development can be costly.  Another tendency is that
labs like to buy small clusters so they can have something available
when they need it even if CPUs are idle when they don't need it.

What does your management define as success?  Your situation is odd
because they not only want statistics, they are leaving it up to you
(you'all) to define what are the goals, it seems.  What do project
leaders and lower managers want to be the goals?  What upper management
wants might, in the end, reflect what lower level management (those whose
groups use the cluster) want, and lower level managers might have time
to talk with you'all.


  Alan Scheinine
  200 Georgann Dr., Apt. E6
  Vicksburg, MS  39180

  Email: alscheinine at tuffmail.us
  Mobile phone: 225 288 4176

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