Subject: IDEA Parallel Processing course
From: Brian Tracy (btracy@ideafamilies.org)
Date: Fri Sep 06 2002 - 13:47:21 AKDT
Hi, this message is to solicit help from members of the AKlug who are
interested in parallel processing, cluster computing or 3D imaging.
I'm operating a course for high school and post secondary education
students using the Linux platform to support computer clusters.
The purpose of the course is to expose students to the technology of
creating computer clusters for increased processing power from commodity
computers. Currently we are using a Scyld (www.scyld.com) distribution
of Beowulf clustering to build computer clusters, using computers that
have been retired from the IDEA home schooling program (Compaq AMD K6-2,
300MHz computers).
In this course we are also introducing the concept of programming for
parallel processing. Currently we plan to use PovRay, 3D ray tracing
software (www.povray.org) to provide a graphical programming
application, as our choice of programming software.
This serves two purposes, first it provides a cluster computing
benchmark tool that has been implemented by other Beowulf cluster users,
and it provides an application that we think students will be motivated
to use and learn.
I'm a Linux newbie myself. Still we taught this course last spring and
we were able to get four, 5 node Beowulf clusters running, with two
students to each cluster. We did not however get PovRay installed and
running, and did not benchmark our clusters.
The current project then is to get PovRay installed on a Beowulf
cluster, be able to prove that it's parallel processing, and provide
instructions for students to follow that would allow them to create 3D
images and submit them to the clusters they have built for rendering.
Rather than go into the details of how we might accomplish this, I'll
just say that we are hoping to make this a part of the Friday Aklug
meetings and if you have an interest in this area please contact me via
email at btracy@ideafamilies.org.
Thanks and have a great day.
Brian Tracy
Parallel Processing Instructor
Cisco Academy Instructor
Interior Distance Education of Alaska
"Balance in all Things"
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2a23 : Fri Sep 06 2002 - 13:47:28 AKDT