Praise for Building Clustered Linux Systems

"The author does an outstanding job of presenting a very complicated subject. I very much commend this work. The author sets the pace and provides vital resources and tips along the way. He also has a very good sense of humor that is crafted in the text in such a way that makes the reading enjoyable just when the subject may demand a break. This book should be a requirement for those that are clustering or considering clustering and especially those considering investing a great deal of financial resource toward that goal."

–Joe Brazeal, Information Technician III, Southwest Power Pool

"This book is for Beginner and Intermediate level system administrators, engineers, and researchers, who want to learn how to build Linux clusters. The book covers everything very well."

–Ibrahim Haddad, Senior Researcher, Ericsson Corporate Unit of Research

"Nothing that I know of exists yet that covers this subject in as much depth and detail. The practical ‘hands-on’ approach of this book on how to build a Linux cluster makes this a very valuable reference for a very popular, highly demanded technology."

–George Vish, II, Linux Curriculum Program Manager and Senior Education Consultant, HP

"In my opinion there is a significant lack of literature on this subject. Most of the currently available books are either dated or do not address the complete picture of the range of decisions that must go into building a Linux cluster. I feel comfortable recommending this to anyone interested in building a Linux cluster to better understand both the technical aspects of building and designing a Linux cluster, but also the business aspects of the same."

–Randall Splinter Ph.D., Senior Solution Architect, HP

"The author has set a precedent in the cluster design and integration process that is lacking in the industry today."

--Stephen Gray, Senior Applications Engineer, Altair Engineering, Inc.

The Practical, Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Running Linux Clusters

Low-cost, high-performance Linux clusters are the best solution for an increasingly wide range of technical and business problems. Until now, however, building and managing Linux clusters has required more specialized knowledge than most IT organizations possess. This book dramatically lowers the learning curve, bringing together all the hands-on knowledge and step-by-step techniques you'll need to get the job done.

Using practical examples, Robert Lucke simplifies every facet of cluster design and integration: networking, hardware, architecture, operating environments, data sharing, applications, and more. Lucke, who helped prototype and implement one of the world's largest Linux clusters, systematically addresses the key issues you'll encounter and the key decisions you'll have to make. Coverage includes:

• Basic clustering concepts, hardware components, and architectural models

• A step-by-step cluster creation process: design, installation, and testing

• Choosing and implementing the optimal hardware configuration for your environment

• Life in the fast LAN: high-speed cluster interconnects

• Software issues: distributions, bootup, disks, partitioning, file systems, middleware, and more

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 12 Ratings

Outstanding value - 2006-08-30
Reviewer Rating:
This book is a very straightforward, clearly written and valuable introduction to Linux clustering. Geared toward system folks, it also provides numerous `on-ramps' into the basics of clustering to accommodate quick, relevant review of supporting technology for the reader. It is essentially a map for getting from start to finish in any Linux cluster project. Specific situations, conditions, and expectations differ across projects, of course, and such points are identified well in the text with pointers to additional information provided.

Scientific computing (HPC) is addressed well, and is more of the topic than any other cluster flavor, though the others are discussed as well (after all, who wouldn't want a side order of high availability with their HPC?). My cluster background personally was mostly high availability (Microsoft Wolfpack), so I appreciated the HPC overview, especially since I was already building a Linux cluster for my bio-algorithms that depended on HPC. This book helped me get every gflop out of my admittedly 2ndhand student hardware.

If you are getting involved with a cluster project or have one potentially on the horizon, and need a clear overview of what may lay ahead, pick up this book. For its measly sticker price, you get two solid discussion weeks with an expert. Go calculate that one:)
5 stars

Hard to beat. Full Marks !! - 2006-06-14
Reviewer Rating:
The book describes in simple reproducable steps how to build a medium to medium big sized cluster. It also devides the clusters into the three main types,

HPC *High performance computing,
High Throughput and
High Availability cluster

and describes their usages. The book is describing cluster projects more from a bird view and gives a whole sight overview including budget calculations, comparing several architectures also by their technology and environmental conditions (Power usage, Cooling requirements etc.).

The book is not only hard to beat but also the perfect companion to the Linux Enterprise Cluster from Karl Kopper. While Karls book is a bit more practical it concentrates only on the technical configuration of "small" clusters.

Here is where Lubke comes in and extends that knowledge by the many environmental factors *Budget, technical considerations, Calculations, Estimates, Planning what to expect from your hardware *Performance, Weight, Heat, Flooring considerations etc.

After you read the book, you will have learned all necessary steps to build your own clusters. The "only" thing left to you is to put the ship to water ;-)

An incredible book and a real eye opener !!

The best book for architecting Linux clusters by far. - 2008-05-11
Reviewer Rating:
This book provides an exhaustive step-by-step examination of all of the elements that need to be considered for architecting a Linux cluster. The coverage is application neutral: High Performance Computing (HPC), Web load-balancing clusters, Enterprise computing centers; no matter. The details common to all clusters are thoroughly discussed.
As a Linux cluster developer of 7 years, I was able to expand and improve my own design processes to better cover all of the issues necessary to architect my designs. I heartily recommended this book to anyone designing a cluster of any size.

Not Helpful completely - 2009-06-01
Reviewer Rating:
This book make again one of the 11th book.
Doesn't tells how to build a cluster with linux as a clear chit explanation.

Most probaly only theory no practicals.
Utimately waster

Beginner's Perspective: - 2008-10-06
Reviewer Rating:
I bought this book because I started thinking of building a cluster in my basement just to experiment with parallel programming. Over the past few weeks reading and rereading sections of the book I've developed the confidence to get started. This won't be the only book I'll need. The author is very clear and unapologetic about that. I still need a good book on Linux and programming with MPI. I don't know everything I'll need to know, but I know far more about what I DON'T know and what other work I need to do.

All in all an excellent and very readable overview.

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