Publisher's Synopsis
This text explains an increasingly popular form of parallel or distributed computing that is frequently misunderstood. A leading expert on microprocessing, Pfister demonstrates that clusters are a distinct form of parallel computing with extraordinary potential and highlights the critical role clusters can play in downsizing. The book covers the underlying hardware and software technologies and shows how clusters of small computers can match the performance of the most powerful supercomputers. It provides the background needed to understand the real issues involved in implementing parallel and distributed systems, and also includes an analysis of the various forms of clusters and how they differ from the competitive symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) architectures.
