User Feedback :: Clusters of DSL?



I love DSL and have been using it on and off for years.  Now I want to build a Linux Cluster.  DSL requires me to attach a keyboard and monitor to bring it up on the net.  Before I re-master a CD with ssh active and dhcp client running - do I have any way to come in on the network?  I want to build a classified cluster.  To do that I can't have any hard drives on the machines.  The system will have several removable hard drives, so I can do a pxe boot.  I just like the idea of booting off CDROM.  Escpecially as a backup, to get the cluster running.  Thanks in advance for any ideasjavascript:emoticon(':;):')
smilie
I've been using DSL+CD+USB stick as "portable" server.
Settings on the USB stick made DSL act as server automatically.
I also made it regonize local hard disks. If a special setup file was found from any of the hard disks' partitions, it automatically mounted it into the system.

Anyway. It would be _reallly_ nice if I (/you) could add cluster possibility to DSL.
DSL server would run as normal, but if I have my laptop in same LAN, then I could request server to "do some cooperation with my laptop" aka. to attach as cluster node to my (master) laptop.
Because as most of you might guess, home servers are most of the time idle. And it's just wasting time there while "other computers might want some help". ;)

Does anyone of you have any suggestions how to do this? I can compile new kernel to my (master) laptop (I think it needs to be done for cluster master), since I use Gentoo there.
Quote (dyad @ Jan. 18 2007,18:31)
I love DSL and have been using it on and off for years.  Now I want to build a Linux Cluster.  DSL requires me to attach a keyboard and monitor to bring it up on the net.  Before I re-master a CD with ssh active and dhcp client running - do I have any way to come in on the network?  I want to build a classified cluster.  To do that I can't have any hard drives on the machines.  The system will have several removable hard drives, so I can do a pxe boot.  I just like the idea of booting off CDROM.  Escpecially as a backup, to get the cluster running.  Thanks in advance for any ideasjavascript:emoticon(':;):')
smilie

I'd like to see a DSL clustering  system, but there's security issues.  I've got some ideas for increasing security, but I'm not a C/C++ hacker.

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Desired_Hacks

With security hacks added, one could run a SETI-type project.  I wouldn't do it without security hacks added.

If you have total physical control of your network, you can ignore many of the security issues by trusting your physical control of the network.  (Can you see every millimeter of your twisted pair cable and guarantee restricted access to every box?)

For that situation and that only, start a remaster of DSL.
Replace the kernel from DSL with a clustering kernel.  (i.e. replace the "../KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX" file with one from clusterKnoppix, openMossix, etc.)  Make sure you are using the exact same kernel number.

Add the cluster management tools, configure everything and finish remastering.

Personally, even if I thought I could see every nanometer of twisted pair and thought I had absolute control of the physical boxes, I'd probably still want to have security hacks controling the addition of boxes and launching of applications.

original here.