Mac Mini Clusters

[bse5150]

Just curious if anybody runs a Mac Mini cluster? If so, what software are you running? What are you doing with your cluster?

 

[flyrod]

I have one that used to be for running simulations and xcode compiling. The shift to multi-core 64-bit stuff has somewhat retired it, so now it's mostly for parallel/cluster computing experiments. Probably the most useful task it has now is video encoding. My house is electric heat so I usually fire it up during the winter as a slightly more productive way to turn electricity into heat. For a while I played around with xgrid, but I think that has been dropped by apple for some reason. It would be nice to see more stuff written to use multiple computers vs. the now common multi-threaded software.


http://daugerresearch.com/pooch/quicktime.shtml

 

[bse5150]

I've wanted to build a cluster for many years now, but I've never come up with a use for one. At least not a use that would work within my abilities (I'm not a programmer).

 

[flyrod]

Picked up two more 'nodes' last week. I guess I'm a sucker for a deal...

 

[128keaton]

Hmm, I dont think I, as a programmer, would have a use for a server either. Hmm.

 

[happyfrappy]

For non-programmer usage, you could do a load-balanced webserver/media server/home server. Cost wise you could launch your own retro Yahoo directory & search using a FW400 enclosure for storage(PATA internal HDD of the mini would be too old & unreliable or expensive to use an SSD).

At the moment I dusted off a old ITX Atom as a test setup for a web project, four spare HDDs= 1.4TB (2x PATA & 2x SATA)

 

[flyrod]

Hmm, I dont think I, as a programmer, would have a use for a server either. Hmm.

Well, desktops now have 12 cores or something, but a while back distcc on this cluster really sped things up. I could do a build over lunch instead of over the weekend.

 

[128keaton]

Well, desktops now have 12 cores or something, but a while back distcc on this cluster really sped things up. I could do a build over lunch instead of over the weekend.

Thats pretty cool/sad. Yeah, my 8-core Mac Pro kicks some tail.