Cluster computing

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 53. Chapters: Supercomputer, OpenVMS, Beowulf, ASCI White, Computer cluster, Oracle Grid Engine, Xgrid, MOSIX, Single system image, CHAOS, ProActive, United Devices, Oracle RAC, OpenSSI, CloudSigma, Comparison of cluster software, IBM Parallel Sysplex, Server farm, Cluster manager, Cloud.bg, Solaris Cluster, UnixWare NonStop Clusters, VMScluster, LOCUS, Space-based architecture, FinisTerrae, Rocks Cluster Distribution, Veritas Cluster Server, Terracotta Cluster, SiCortex, Red Hat Cluster Suite, Corosync, Microsoft Cluster Server, IBM High Availability Cluster Multiprocessing, OpenMosix, Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management, XCAT, Alewife, FhGFS, Brutus cluster, GPU cluster, Compile farm, Diskless Shared Root Cluster, Warewulf, LinuxPMI, IBM System Cluster 1350, Advanced Computation Group, Multi-simulation coordinator, Project Kusu, Kerrighed, Open Source Cluster Application Resources, UniCluster, Portable cluster, Network of Workstations, Cluster-aware application, Virtual IP address, HPCx, Open-Sharedroot, Open Cluster Framework, STONITH, Death Star, Node fencing, Process migration, Heartbeat private network. Excerpt: OpenVMS (Open Virtual Memory System), previously known as VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS or (informally) VMS, is a high-end computer server operating system that runs on VAX, Alpha and Itanium-based families of computers. Contrary to what its name suggests, OpenVMS is not open source software; however, the source listings are available for purchase. Unlike some other mainframe-oriented operating systems, OpenVMS has a graphical user interface (GUI) with complete graphics support. Digital Equipment Corporation's VAX was one of the three top-selling workstations lines in the 1980s and 1990s. VMS had support for professional DTP and CAE software . Software for AXP based systems was promoted by Digital's ASAP program (Association of Software and Application Partners) and could be found in the extensive "Alpha Applications Catalog". AXP VMS supported OpenGL and Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) graphics adapters. OpenVMS is a multi-user, multiprocessing virtual memory-based operating system (OS) designed for use in time sharing, batch processing, real-time (where process priorities can be set higher than OS kernel jobs), and transaction processing. It offers high system availability through clustering, or the ability to distribute the system over multiple physical machines. This allows the system to be "disaster-tolerant" against disasters that may disable individual data-processing facilities. VMS also includes a process priority system that allows for real-time processes to run unhindered, while user processes get temporary priority "boosts" if necessary. OpenVMS commercialized many features that are now considered standard requirements for any high-end server operating system. These include: Enterprise-class environments typically select and use OpenVMS for various purposes including as a mail server, network services, manufacturing or transportation control and monitoring, critical applications and databases, and particularly environments where system uptime and data access is cr