Many people only a computer to check email and social media and to perform basic office tasks.
If this is your workload, you dont need much processing power.
A thin and light laptop can quickly handle your processing needs.
Many workloads need more power than that, though.
To handle extensive processing requirements, there are a few options.
All the hardware can be connected as closely as possible to create a single supercomputer.
For example, it doesnt help to draw in a grid of half a dozen thin and light laptops.
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Clustering on the Middle Ground
A middle ground is cluster computing.
A computer cluster has several different computers connected locally by high-speed networking and can be managed as a group.
The cluster architecture has an array of benefits.
Using an over-the-top management suite allows the whole cluster to be managed at once or to target individual devices.
A management suite cant break down some problems that cant be parallelized.
Another benefit of clusters is that they can have relatively low set-up costs.
Typically, commodity hardware will be acquired explicitly for the purpose.
you might also spend as much as the budget allows and add more next quarter, for example.
Upgrade cycles dont even necessarily need to add identical hardware.
Newer models with more processing power can be slotted in.
This can also be done without having to replace the old models.
This approach means you dont have to replace all hardware every upgrade cycle.
After a few cycles, however, it may become worth outright replacing older models.
Older models will be less energy efficient and less powerful.
What Are Clusters Used For?
Computer clusters can be used for many tasks, with their proficiency depending on the hardware.
More common applications would be large data centers working or processing business or scientific workloads.
There are middle grounds too.
For example, a render farm consisting of a few desktop computers is also a computer cluster.
Some supercomputers in the TOP500 list of fastest supercomputers are computer clusters.
Japans K computer is one example.
