Vlad Manea <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > I have a question regarding the head node for a small cluster that I > would like to build: > > which are the disadvantages of using the head node as a computation > node? Since I plan to have NFS on it, I guess there will be > problems with comunication which probably will slow down the whole > cluster, but I am not sure since this is my first attempt to built > one...
As is always the case, "it depends". Your computational load might be such that doing computation on the head speeds up the overall computation by adding a needed CPU, or might be such that it slows it down by robbing the whole cluster of needed file i/o performance. That depends enormously on the particular task you're doing. The only real way to know is to test it and see what happens. In general, if you have enough machines, I don't think there is much point in doing computation on the head -- it complicates matters and if you have enough machines you're only adding a tiny percentage of extra CPU -- but if you have a very small cluster and you need the extra CPU and your tests say it is fine, then go for it. You'll have to test to be sure. Perry _______________________________________________ Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf@beowulf.org To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf
