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    Cluster Vs Distributed

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    Shital Joshi
    Clusters are a subclass of distributed systems that consist of a small, homogeneous set of computers dedicated to performing well-defined tasks. They differ from general distributed systems in being smaller in scale, using similar hardware and software, and focusing on specialized tasks rather than general computing. Common examples of cluster applications include reliable file services and fast web services that continue operating even if some machines fail.

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    Cluster Vs Distributed

    Uploaded by

    Shital Joshi
    41 views2 pages
    Clusters are a subclass of distributed systems that consist of a small, homogeneous set of computers dedicated to performing well-defined tasks. They differ from general distributed systems in being smaller in scale, using similar hardware and software, and focusing on specialized tasks rather than general computing. Common examples of cluster applications include reliable file services and fast web services that continue operating even if some machines fail.

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    Cluster vs Distributed

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    Clusters are a subclass of distributed systems that consist of a small, homogeneous set of computers dedicated to performing well-defined tasks. They differ from general distributed systems in being smaller in scale, using similar hardware and software, and focusing on specialized tasks rather than general computing. Common examples of cluster applications include reliable file services and fast web services that continue operating even if some machines fail.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    41 views2 pages

    Cluster Vs Distributed

    Uploaded by

    Shital Joshi
    Clusters are a subclass of distributed systems that consist of a small, homogeneous set of computers dedicated to performing well-defined tasks. They differ from general distributed systems in being smaller in scale, using similar hardware and software, and focusing on specialized tasks rather than general computing. Common examples of cluster applications include reliable file services and fast web services that continue operating even if some machines fail.

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    Clusters What is a distributed system (again)

    § “True” Distributed Operating System


    u Loosely-coupled hardware
    § Distributed system def. Review
    • No shared memory, but provides the “feel” of a single memory
    § Cluster definition
    u Tightly-coupled software
    § Clusters vs. distributed systems • One single OS, or at least the feel of one
    § Cluster example 1 – reliable file service u Machines are somewhat, but not completely, autonomous

    § Cluster example 2 – fast web service


    § Classification of clusters
    Disk1
    M1 P1 M2 P2 M3 P3

    Network

    M4 P4 M5 P5

    1 Printer4 Disk5 2

    Clusters (C) vs. Distributed systems (D)


    Clusters § structure
    u [C] - homogeneous - purchased to perform a certain task

    u [D] - heterogeneous - put together from the available hardware

    § A subclass of distributed systems § scale


    § a small scale (mostly) homogeneous (the same hardware and OS) u [C] - small scale - don’t have to make sure that the setup scales
    array of computers (located usually in one site) dedicated to small
    u [D] - medium/large - have to span (potentially) large number of machines
    number of well defined tasks in solving of which the cluster acts as
    one single whole. § task
    u [C] - specialized - made to perform a small set of well-defined tasks
    § typical tasks for “classic” distributed systems:
    u [D] - general - usually have to be general-user computing environments
    u file services from/to distributed machines over (college) campus

    u distributing workload of all machines on campus


    § price
    u [C] - (relatively) cheap
    § typical tasks for a cluster:
    u [D] - free(?)/expensive
    u high-availability web-service/file service, other high-availability
    applications § reliability
    u [C] - as good as it needs to be
    u computing “farms”.
    u [D] - high/low?

    § security
    3 u [C] - nodes trust each-other 4
    u [D] - nodes do not trust each other

    Cluster Cluster examples (cont.)


    examples

    § active machine - serves files to the network of computers


    § standby machine -listens to network and updates it’s own copy of
    pictures taken from “In Search of Clusters”, G.F. Pfister, 1998 files
    § branches get access to shared information even if one of § in case of machine failure - standby machine takes over file service 6
    5
    the links or computers fails transparent to users
    Cluster examples (cont.)
    Classification of clusters
    § Dispatcher (sprayer) machine - sends the web requests to server § By architecture:
    machines and makes sure that the servers are evenly loaded
    u with hardware additions - OpenVMS, Tandem Himalaya,
    § web service continues even if a server fails Parallel Syspex
    u pure software - Beowulf, …

    § By task. There is no dividing line between clusters and true


    distributed systems - as we add features the clusters start to
    resemble D.S.
    u availability

    u batch processing

    u database

    u generic (scientific) computation

    u full clusters (distributed systems) - single system image

    7 8

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