[Beowulf] How to configure a cluster network

[andrew holway]

> Your most cost effective solution will be a large port count switch.
> Most are not 'ideal' but they are close to ideal and cost effective.

That is not really the case in practice;

You can buy a Mellanox 144-Port Modular InfiniBand DDR Switch
(60-Ports enabled) for around 22k EUR or so

the 24 port switches are around 2k EUR

As most people dont need anything like the full 16 Gbit/s bandwidth
you can connect up your 50 ports for about 13/14k EUR

ta

Andy