Computing Cluster

- Overview

A computer cluster is a set of loosely or tightly connected computers that work together so that, in many respects, they can be viewed as a single system. Unlike grid computers, computer clusters have each node set to perform the same task, controlled and scheduled by software. 

The components of a cluster are usually connected to each other through fast local area networks, with each node (computer used as a server) running its own instance of an operating system. In most circumstances, all of the nodes use the same hardware and the same operating system, although in some setups, different operating systems can be used on each computer, or different hardware. 

Clusters are typically used for High Availability (HA) for greater reliability or High Performance Computing (HPC) to provide greater computational power than a single computer can provide. As high-performance computing (HPC) clusters grow in size, they become increasingly complex and time-consuming to manage. 

Tasks such as deployment, maintenance, and monitoring of these clusters can be effectively managed using an automated cluster computing solution. Cluster computing can scale to very large systems, hundreds or even thousands of machines can be networked. In fact, the entire Internet can be viewed as one truly huge cluster. 

Computer clusters emerged as a result of convergence of a number of computing trends including the availability of low-cost microprocessors, high-speed networks, and software for high-performance distributed computing. They have a wide range of applicability and deployment, ranging from small business clusters with a handful of nodes to some of the fastest supercomputers in the world such as IBM's Sequoia.

- Computer Clusters vs. Supercomputers

A computer cluster is a group of computers that work together to appear as a single system. A supercomputer is a small group of high-end machines that can process data quickly to perform complex calculations. 

Here are some more differences between computer clusters and supercomputers:

• Purpose: Computer clusters are good for bioinformatics and particle physics applications. Supercomputers are designed for engineers and scientists to solve mathematical and scientific problems.
• Processing: Computer clusters assign the same task to each node. Supercomputers can split tasks into multiple parts and work on them in parallel.
• Speed: Supercomputers offer faster processing speeds than computer clusters.