Cluster Computing with iMacs and Power Macintoshes

We investigate the use of a cluster of networked Apple iMac or Power Macintosh personal computers as a compute server for sequential and parallel programs, and describe our experiences with a cluster of iMacs used primarily for an undergraduate teaching laboratory. We explore the support for cluster computing offered by the various operating systems available for the Macintosh: MacOS 8; the upcoming MacOS X which offers Unix functionality; and the recently available LinuxPPC for the Macintosh. We present sequential and parallel benchmark performance results for an iMac cluster, a Beowulf-style Intel Pentium PC cluster, and a network of DEC Alpha workstations. We compare the performance and price/performance of these systems, and discuss some of the less quantifiable issues such as software installation, ease of use, and system maintenance. Keywords: cluster computing, Beowulf, Macintosh, iMac. 1 Introduction There has been substantial interest in recent years in building high-performa..