Introduction.

History.

From long time ago, we collect old computers just for fun and to see them running. Usually MSX 8 bits computers or 386 PCs, but this days we have some Pentium I computers that we don't use and have collected even from trash. It's time to do something with them, something useful and interesting for learning purposes. Let's build a SuperComputer.

What's a Beowulf?

When you take some off-the-shell PCs and connect them all together to use it like one supercomputer this is a Beowulf.

IBM asci-white Supercomputer

Stone Supercomputer

IBM asci-white SuperComputer is an example of a very expensive system and Stone supercomputer is a "home" supercomputer that everybody can build (smaller indeed).

Objective.

The main idea is to join all the computers we have to work together as if it were only one. The system will run Linux of course.
We don't have enough room nor electric power for a "Stone Supercomputer" that's why we are going to minimize the size and power consume.
By now we don't know exactly how to configure such a system and what will be the task to work on. This is the interesting part, we don't know howto but sure we'll learn. Having such a big library like internet at our hands, we can do anything :]

Resources.

6 mainboards,Pentium I CPUs, RAM, hard disks, network cards,  2 power supplies, is the main material for the project, we are not going to buy hardware. Cost almost 0 is important for us.
Thats why we disassemble all the computers we have.