Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

One approach to building supercomputers is to interconnect any number of common PCs using an interface like Ethernet. This method, called clustering or "Beowulf" clustering, produces very inexpensive powerful computers whose capabilities would previously have cost millions of dollars. Now for a few tens of thousands of dollars, very powerful computers can be built for any number of computing solutions. From scientific applications to transaction processing, clustering technology provides an affordable, scalable computing solution. Building Linux Clusters introduces the reader to the basics of cluster installation and configuration, and comes complete with a CD full of cluster installation programs and tools for parallel programming. Focusing on the "how to" of building a Linux cluster, this book is a hands-on guide for people new to clustering. It is the definitive guide to scaling Linux for scientific and enterprise applications.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. ix)
• Part I Cluster Design, Development, and Management (p. 1)
• Chapter 1 Introduction (p. 3)
• What Makes a Supercomputer "Super?" (p. 4)
• Pushing the State of the Art (p. 5)
• The Trickle-Down Effect (p. 7)
• Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact (p. 9)
• What Can Clusters Be Used For? (p. 10)
• What's Next? (p. 13)
• Chapter 2 Basic Concepts (p. 14)
• Why Clusters? (p. 14)
• Clustering Concepts (p. 16)
• Networking Concepts (p. 29)
• TCP/IP Addressing (p. 34)
• Parallel Programming Systems (p. 39)
• Review (p. 40)
• Chapter 3 Designing Clusters (p. 41)
• Design Considerations (p. 41)
• Hardware for Clusters (p. 44)
• System Performance Analysis (p. 51)
• Disk Selection (p. 55)
• Network Selection (p. 58)
• Cluster Configurations (p. 64)
• Scalability (p. 76)
• Data Access for Clusters (p. 77)
• Messaging Systems (p. 81)
• Queueing Systems (p. 83)
• Compilers (p. 84)
• Other Tools (p. 85)
• Chapter 4 Building Clusters (p. 86)
• Selecting the Place (p. 86)
• Preparing the Environment (p. 87)
• Building the Nodes (p. 93)
• Assembling Custom Systems (p. 103)
• Installation and Cabling (p. 106)
• Summary (p. 107)
• Chapter 5 Software Installation and Configuration (p. 109)
• CD-ROM Overview (p. 111)
• Installation Overview (p. 113)
• Chapter 6 Managing Clusters (p. 138)
• Basic Tools (p. 140)
• The Cluster Management System (p. 142)
• Structure of the Management System (p. 153)
• The Cluster Management Page (p. 157)
• User Administration (p. 161)
• Group Administration (p. 162)
• Project Administration (p. 167)
• Batch Queues (p. 171)
• Accounting (p. 183)
• Cluster Maintenance (p. 183)
• Other Management Interfaces (p. 187)
• Other Useful Tools (p. 188)
• Summary (p. 190)
• Part II Cluster Programming and Applications (p. 193)
• Chapter 7 Tools and Libraries for Parallel Programming (p. 195)
• Development Tools (p. 195)
• Parallel Development Environments (p. 196)
• Parallel Libraries (p. 204)
• Debugging/Profiling Tools (p. 206)
• Online Documentation (p. 211)
• System Extensions (p. 212)
• Summary (p. 215)
• Chapter 8 Programming in a Parallel Environment (p. 216)
• Programming a Clustered System (p. 216)
• A Clustered MUD (p. 219)
• Language Selection (p. 235)
• Where to Go from Here (p. 238)
• Chapter 9 Application Examples (p. 240)
• mp3pvm (p. 241)
• PVMPOV (p. 253)
• PVFS (p. 263)
• Part III Appendixes (p. 269)
• Appendix A Resources (p. 271)
• Appendix B Message Passing APIs (p. 276)
• Appendix C Installation Scripts (p. 292)
• Appendix D The Cluster Administration Database (p. 305)
• Bibliography (p. 315)
• Glossary (p. 319)
• Index (p. 323)