01-01-2011, 02:35 PM
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Overview of presentation
Definition
Cluster Categorizations
Architecture
Comparison
Benefits
Disadvantages
Definition:
A computer cluster is a group of linked computers working together closely thus in many respects forming a single computer.
Cluster Categorization:
High-availability(HA) Clusters
Load-balancing Clusters
Compute Clusters
Grid Computing
HA Cluster:-
(also known as Failover Clusters) are implemented primarily for the purpose of improving the availability of services that the cluster provides.
Load-Balance Cluster:- is when multiple computers are linked together to share computational workload or function as a single virtual computer.
Architecture:-
Database replication is a necessary and useful application of clusters. Many databases are read intensive with many more read requests made than
write requests.
A node:-
A single or multiprocessor system with memory, I/O facilities, & OS
Generally 2 or more computers (nodes) connected together
In a single cabinet, or physically separated & connected via a LAN
Appear as a single system to users and applications
Provide a cost-effective way to gain features and benefits
Benefits:
Reduce Cost
Processing Power
Improve Network Technology
Scalability
Availability
Reduce Cost
The price of off-the-shelf consumer desktops has plummeted in recent years, and this drop in price has corresponded with a vast increase in their processing power and performance.
Processing Power
The parallel processing power of a high-performance cluster can, in many cases, prove more cost effective than a mainframe with similar power.
Improve Network Technology
Driving the development of computer clusters has been a vast improvement in the technology related to networking, along with a reduction in the price of such technology.
Scalability
Perhaps the greatest advantage of computer clusters is the scalability they offer. While mainframe computers have a fixed processing capacity, computer clusters can be easily expanded as requirements change by adding additional nodes to the network.
Availability
When a mainframe computer fails, the entire system fails. However, if a node in a computer cluster fails, its operations can be simply transferred to another node within the cluster, ensuring that there is no interruption in service.
Cluster Applications
The class of applications that a cluster can typically cope with would be considered grand challenge or super-computing applications.
