Learning to Program in Python for Kids

A Linux Cluster Server

My ambition here is to get several Raspberry Pi's and put them together as a small Linux controlled cluster computer. This is not an early project but one that will require a few computers and a bit of time. As yet the extended family only have one other Raspberry Pi Computer and Father-in-Law wants to play with his.

How it works

Basically the ethernet cable is used to join up several computers to make one pretend multi-computer - "a super computer". Only one screen and keyboard are used on the master computer and the other computers act like sub computers each working out a small part of the problem but simultaneosly. It won't be that super since the power of the Raspberry Pi is limited, but as a project to create a cluster computer and it will be worth it for the Educational purposes alone. 

Ideas on how to do this can be found at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~sjc/raspberrypi/pi_supercomputer_southampton.htm

There are some photographs of the project at the bottom of the article.

At Southampton University they have access to 64 Raspberry Pi's I have access to 2, but my ambition is slightly less - being able to have a cluster of about 10 machines. I built a cluster of 10 machines (486's) about 10 years ago. These machines were old then but a viable machine was created. With the low cost of the Pi's a small cluster should be possible. The great part about this is, if I change the SD card then I can have an ordinary Pi back again and 10 Pi's around the house might be quite useful.

Raspberry Pi is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation