Linux Clustering: Building and Maintaining Linux Clusters

Chapter 7. Distributed Computing

Distributed computing is the ability to run various jobs through the processing power of primarily heterogeneous environments. Although distributed computing can easily be covered under homogenous systems, what differenti-ates parallel computing from distributed computing is that it’s not necessarily tied to one type of machine or dedicated cluster.

To illustrate this fact, imagine that you’re going to the store to get some milk. It’s right after work and the store is crowded. Not only do you have to fight your way through the back forty to find an open spot in the parking lot, but you have to walk all the way to ...