How to utilize multiple computers for processing power?

[nickolas929]

I have multiple computer systems, and I'd like to be able to use them for various processes. Is there anyway to link them for that?

I can buy network cards and deal with linking them ethernet cables, but I don't want to spend a lot on a server switch.

 

[bambiboom]

I have multiple computer systems, and I'd like to be able to use them for various processes. Is there anyway to link them for that?

I can buy network cards and deal with linking them ethernet cables, but I don't want to spend a lot on a server switch.

nickolas929,

Configuring a cluster of systems is of course possible but the problems of transfer bandwidth, parallelization, and data synchronization seems complex to me, especially if the systems are dissimilar.

I've never done this, but it appears the cluster is easiest- a relative term- using a customized Linux protocol on all the systems or as the network /parallelization mode, so the individual systems can be Windows and act as nodes. There are useful YouTube videos on the subject.

Regardless, I think there is a steep learning curve to a successful cluster which require a switch for all the I/O. There is a lot of cluster experiementation using stacks of Rasperberry PI's and looking at those will show the simplest cluster connections.

A faster and easier solution, in my view would be to sell all the systems and buy and upgrade a conventional, used dual Xeon workstation. Example: Two weeks ago I bought an HP z620: E5-1620 / 8GB RAM / Firepro V5900 /3X HD's/ 800W PSU for $270. Two Xeon E5-2690 8-core 2.9 / 3.8CPU's were $350, 32GB RAM- $165, the CPU riser/ heatsink for $150, I'm using a Quadro K2200, Samsung 840 240GB, and WD RE4 from another system, so the cash outlay is under $1,000 and parts value total of about $400 for a 16-core.32 thread up to 3.8GHz 4GB Quadro, 240GB SSD/ 1TB system. The Passmark single-threaded rating of the E5-2690- which cost $1,820 new- is 1888- fine for 3D CAD /animation and there's all those threads and CUDA cores for rendering. If I needed a personal supercomputer for scientific work, a used Tesla K20 6GB co-processor can be added for $800.

A single system is going to be much simpler to setup and maintain, and the computing power of a strong single system is considerable, especially with a co-processor.

What are your programs, projects, and what are the existing systems?

Cheers,

BambiBoom

Modeling:

1. HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) / 32GB DDR3 -1866 ECC RAM / Quadro K4200 (4GB) / Samsung SM951 M.2 256GB AHCI + Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) + Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > Logitech z2300 speakers > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)>
[ Passmark Rating = 5581 > CPU= 14046 / 2D= 838 / 3D= 4694 / Mem= 2777 / Disk= 11559] [6.12.16]

Rendering:

2. Dell Precision T5500 (2011) (Revised) > 2X Xeon X5680 (6-core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz), 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC Reg. > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > PERC H310 / Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z313 > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (27", 1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3844 > CPU = 15047 / 2D= 662 / 3D= 3550 / Mem= 1785 / Disk= 2649] (12.30.15)

 

[USAFRet]

I have multiple computer systems, and I'd like to be able to use them for various processes. Is there anyway to link them for that?

At a consumer level, not really.
You could build a Beowulf cluster, based on Linux. But what would you use it for?

 

[nickolas929]

I have multiple computer systems, and I'd like to be able to use them for various processes. Is there anyway to link them for that?

I can buy network cards and deal with linking them ethernet cables, but I don't want to spend a lot on a server switch.

nickolas929,

Configuring a cluster of systems is of course possible but the problems of transfer bandwidth, parallelization, and data synchronization seems complex to me, especially if the systems are dissimilar.

I've never done this, but it appears the cluster is easiest- a relative term- using a customized Linux protocol on all the systems or as the network /parallelization mode, so the individual systems can be Windows and act as nodes. There are useful YouTube videos on the subject.

Regardless, I think there is a steep learning curve to a successful cluster which require a switch for all the I/O. There is a lot of cluster experiementation using stacks of Rasperberry PI's and looking at those will show the simplest cluster connections.

A faster and easier solution, in my view would be to sell all the systems and buy and upgrade a conventional, used dual Xeon workstation. Example: Two weeks ago I bought an HP z620: E5-1620 / 8GB RAM / Firepro V5900 /3X HD's/ 800W PSU for $270. Two Xeon E5-2690 8-core 2.9 / 3.8CPU's were $350, 32GB RAM- $165, the CPU riser/ heatsink for $150, I'm using a Quadro K2200, Samsung 840 240GB, and WD RE4 from another system, so the cash outlay is under $1,000 and parts value total of about $400 for a 16-core.32 thread up to 3.8GHz 4GB Quadro, 240GB SSD/ 1TB system. The Passmark single-threaded rating of the E5-2690- which cost $1,820 new- is 1888- fine for 3D CAD /animation and there's all those threads and CUDA cores for rendering. If I needed a personal supercomputer for scientific work, a used Tesla K20 6GB co-processor can be added for $800.

A single system is going to be much simpler to setup and maintain, and the computing power of a strong single system is considerable, especially with a co-processor.

What are your programs, projects, and what are the existing systems?

Cheers,

BambiBoom

Modeling:

1. HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) / 32GB DDR3 -1866 ECC RAM / Quadro K4200 (4GB) / Samsung SM951 M.2 256GB AHCI + Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) + Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > Logitech z2300 speakers > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)>
[ Passmark Rating = 5581 > CPU= 14046 / 2D= 838 / 3D= 4694 / Mem= 2777 / Disk= 11559] [6.12.16]

Rendering:

2. Dell Precision T5500 (2011) (Revised) > 2X Xeon X5680 (6-core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz), 48GB DDR3 1333 ECC Reg. > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > PERC H310 / Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z313 > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (27", 1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3844 > CPU = 15047 / 2D= 662 / 3D= 3550 / Mem= 1785 / Disk= 2649] (12.30.15)

Well, I've opted to use remote controlling of the computers for what I need to do, but now I can't install an OS on the machine.

 

[bambiboom]

I have multiple computer systems, and I'd like to be able to use them for various processes. Is there anyway to link them for that?

Well, I've opted to use remote controlling of the computers for what I need to do, but now I can't install an OS on the machine.

nickolas929,

Sorry, I misunderstood the original query as meaning the goal was to run several systems in parallel to increase processing power.

If you're using Windows Remote Desktop, each system needs to be linked on a home / work network- or it can run over the Internet. It appears that configuration means each system is setup to run independently- has it's own OS and programmes, and WRD acts as a kind of a super KVM switch- wherever you go, you can use the keyboard, mouse, and monitor in front of you, select from the list and use the system in the Remote desktop.

Is this what you'd like to do ?

Cheers,

BambiBoom

 

[nickolas929]

nickolas929,

Sorry, I misunderstood the original query as meaning the goal was to run several systems in parallel to increase processing power.

If you're using Windows Remote Desktop, each system needs to be linked on a home / work network- or it can run over the Internet. It appears that configuration means each system is setup to run independently- has it's own OS and programmes, and WRD acts as a kind of a super KVM switch- wherever you go, you can use the keyboard, mouse, and monitor in front of you, select from the list and use the system in the Remote desktop.

Is this what you'd like to do ?

Cheers,

BambiBoom

That is what I've decided to use, because there doesn't seem to be a point in trying to take the long curve in clusters when I could do it in a much easier way.