Just slightly off topic?

[Dominic Baines]

Goodin, Lee (AZ77) wrote:

> 1 - with all of the obsolete computers available,  like 486DX4-100' or early
> Pentium based computers, I'm wondering if Beowulf technology would turn them
> into 'super computers'?

Yes, my first one used 4 old 486DX2/66's but if you want to see what can really
be done with older kit  take a lookat the Stone computer. 1,000+ nodes all old
defunct PC hardware of the type you mention.
I'm sure the URL is about on the main Beowulf site as a link.

> 2 - How much of an increase in MIPS can a Beowulf system create?
>
> 3 - What applications can be run on a Beowulf/Linux system?

Anything that you want to run in parallel or even non-parallel (just multiple
copies)formats. Multiple database query applications. Large iterative problems
that need lots of raw CPU computes
I use them to run monte-carlo, mass transport and gas kinetics problems that
would take for ever on single
CPU boxes.

> 4 - This is an I. T. NETWORK intensive technology, what certifications, and
> courses of study would enable the novice like myself
>       to make their own Beowulf systems?

Read the linux HOWTO's, learn enough about networking and linux, go and get a
copy of theBeowulf documentation, MPI software and build yourself a cluster. I
think it's all about doing at the moment
not the talking that will really make the difference at the moment.

> 5 - I've been considering changing careers,  what certifications  (if any)
> would allow me to go places in the I.T. industry?

A lot I know praise the MSCE and similar stuff but I fear it may be over priced
and not especiallyrequired to get a job. There are any number of other similar
qualifications to obtain dependant
on the specific IT field. Any IT or maths based degree would probably help. IT
is a big field, depends
what you want to do in it. I seem to recall that some of the biggest names in IT
dropped out of College
and did it themselves !

If you have a proven ability in IT the qualifications may not matter to some
employers (but they help).

> Answer as many questions as you can.
>
> Thank you
>
> Lee Goodin
> Training Engineer
> Honeywell Inc.  BCAS

Good luck.

  Dominic Baines