One approach to building supercomputers is to interconnect any number of common PCs using an interface like Ethernet. This method, called clustering or "Beowulf" clustering, produces very inexpensive powerful computers whose capabilities would previously have cost millions of dollars. Now for a few tens of thousands of dollars, very powerful computers can be built for any number of computing solutions. From scientific applications to transaction processing, clustering technology provides an affordable, scalable computing solution. Building Linux Clusters introduces the reader to the basics of cluster installation and configuration, and comes complete with a CD full of cluster installation programs and tools for parallel programming. Focusing on the "how to" of building a Linux cluster, this book is a hands-on guide for people new to clustering. It is the definitive guide to scaling Linux for scientific and enterprise applications.

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Building Linux Clusters Review,  January 21 2001
Submitted by Adrian Rees   [Respond | View]

A complete waste of money. I spent two weeks hunting the book down, and when I finally got hold of a copy, I found it to be a nice way of installing Linux, but with little or no constructive help in building a cluster. I am deeply disappointed in this book, and will endeveour to get my money back. The author could at least put CD up dates on a website.

Complete waste of time and money. Very disappointed.




Building Linux Clusters Review,  January 21 2001
Submitted by RedHandy   [Respond | View]

I've been an avid O'Reilly fan for many years. That won't change. But I'll never plunk down $50 to buy another O'Reilly book before I've had the chance to slip beneath it's covers. The simple fact that the figures in Chapter 2 were all confused was enough to put me off... the rest of the book is hardly very helpful. Having managed a 70-node Pentium cluster for a few years now... I'm very disappointed; I was hoping to find more useful information.

Perhaps the bookstore will take it back...


Building Linux Clusters Review,  January 20 2001
Submitted by Steve Rose   [Respond | View]

No tags here. Just a simple note: I waited eagerly for this book, pestering bookstores from coast to coast until I heard about each revised release date. You can imagine my extreme disappointment when I finally got my hands on the real thing. But you don't have to imagine, just read the reviews from others. What I find most disheartening is the apparent absence of any response on O'Reilly's part. We are all rabid O'Reilly fans. If this author is not competent to correct his own mistakes, why hasn't our favorite publisher found someone else to clean up the mess? We paid good money, and expect O'Reilly product. I've been biding my time, waiting for something to change on the site, but it has been about half a year already, and no apparent response from O'R.

On the other side of the coin, I needed information about DNS. Couldn't find the O'Reilly, so I bought another publisher's book called "DNS and BIND", and true to its name, it left me in a bind. It was confusing and disorganized. Found the O'Reilly two days later, and what a difference! It was as if the Sun had come out -- it was clear and fun to read. Couldn't you find someone to do this sort of treatment for Clusters, and include a working, tested CD?


Building Linux Clusters Review,  January 20 2001
Submitted by Jorge Garcia   [Respond | View]

As posted by the other reviewers, this book is crap. I expect better from O'reilly, but this is not even average. It's BAD! I won't repeat what has already been said, just want to add another thumbs down.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  December 30 2000
Submitted by Leo Wouters   [Respond | View]

Looked very nice at a first glance. I don't really care about typo's and such

but the fact that the most promising part of the software (cluster administration) didn't work at all was a big disappointment. There are so many

mistakes in the software provided, that I can't believe anyone tested this before releasing it. Correcting all the errors and missing parts takes more time than configuring things by hand. I would have expected to find a new, corrected CD-image for downloading by now.

The Kickstart part is fine but needs quite a bit of additional information (you don't need a 4GB HD and you don't have to install software packages you don't need). Not exactly the quality I expect from your company !


Building Linux Clusters Review,  December 27 2000
Submitted by Harold South   [Respond | View]

They should have called this book linux kick start. This is the feature that really worked. All I can say is that with-out the correct perl and cgi scripts the overall implementation of the books goals are thwardd. I would sugest that O'Reilly contact the author and request the correct scripts and them post them on the web pad. So 'us' the good paying coustomers of these products can actually put them to some use.




Building Linux Clusters Review,  December 25 2000
Submitted by Sam Daniel   [Respond | View]

This book is the worst ever published by O'Reilly, in my experience. Aside from numerous typos and incorrect diagrams, the core cluster management software on the CD doesn't work.

My only reason for posting another negative review is the hope that O'Reilly will come up with a new version of the CD, and send it to all the reviewers to test before putting out a second edition. In my opinion, the updated CD should be free to anyone who purchased the original book.

If all the errors are corrected, this book would be an extremely valuable and useful reference for anyone interested in Linux clusters.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  December 19 2000
Submitted by Jon Wright   [Respond | View]

Not a good book, I am disappointed indeed that I paid money

for this. It was very little help indeed in setting up

my cluster. I can't recommend this book at all.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  December 15 2000
Submitted by Bryan Cox   [Respond | View]

This book marks O'Reilly's entrance into the commonplace. Obviously, quality texts are no longer to be expected from this publisher as a matter of course. From now on, I'll be sure to scan other reader evaluations before purchasing any O'Reilly book.

What a disappointment! It was nice while it lasted.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  December 12 2000
Submitted by Tan Soo Eng   [Respond | View]

I started reading the book after Chapter 4, I don't care about the long history that makes me sleepy. What I care is to have my 128 computers changed into clustering!!!

It was very disappointed when I can't get the parse-dhcp.pl running and come to the recommeded site, /catalog/linuxcluster/, the updated script not listed but ask me to BUY again!!!! Makes me feel like oreilly is more for business (to SELL & collect money) than helping others to solve the clustering issue!!

When and Where to get the updated info and correction on CD? I need help on this, but these info should be guided by the book itself, shouldn't it?

I never want to use X-win with my server, especially never expect building clustering thru X-win. Lots of unwanted packages were installed into the Master & Slave nodes!!!!

If I am spending more time fixing problems than building up my clustering, please let me know how to return the book and I want my money back! It's to save the reputation!


Building Linux Clusters Review,  December 03 2000
Submitted by shawn@gti.net   [Respond | View]

BOO---

Hiss,

BAD BAD book... !!!

CD Does NOT WORK ...

I cant even create the boot floppy image....

Didnt someone test even that..???

Where can I get the correct info...

BAD BAD BAD dog...




Building Linux Clusters Review,  November 30 2000
Submitted by Ivan Miles   [Respond | View]

This book has quite a few errors in the text along with a few diagrams that aren't, to put it mildly, the right diagrams.

Little of the software supplied on the CD actually works without some sort of fixing and the web based administration tools definitley do not work. -Not working to the point where you cannot even add a cluster to the postgres database, let alone a single node. This software, quite obviously, either hasn't been tested or someone burnt the CD with some old beta scripts.

What would be some compensation would be for someone, ideally the author, to sort this out and release a new edition with the software fixed. -Or is it just going to be left until everyone forgets about it.......

This Linux book really does let the side down and I would recommend that nobody buys it in it's present state.

Ivan Miles


Building Linux Clusters Review,  November 05 2000
Submitted by matt   [Respond | View]

I never thought I'd find an O'Reilly book that wasn't worth even a look, now I have. The errors are too numerous to count, the scripts do not work and the setup is ridiculous. Stick to the primers on the web, this book is a waste of trees. There are much better resources for beginners. Now you know. (cross-posting to Amazon to save others the trouble)


Building Linux Clusters Review,  November 02 2000
Submitted by kim.branson   [Respond | View]

This is a poorly written book. The software does not work in many places and it is easier to build your own than fix the problems on the cd.

the hardware requirements are plainly stupid. why run x on a compute node, why install sendmail?

this book should be rewritten and the cd updated.

do not buy it untill then.

i'd rank a minus but the minimum is 1

kim


Building Linux Clusters Review,  October 27 2000
Submitted by Tyler   [Respond | View]

This book started off OK. I can get past some of the issues, but it was problem after problem. Here is a list of the problems I had:

- I had to hunt down the images to create the nodes..burried deep

- NFS was not setup correctly. I had to edit all of the settings for NFS

- Apache was all hosed up. I had to reinstall Apache and then go in and fix all of the errors pertaining to the CGI scripts

- NONE of the CGI scripts work. Nor is the code even close to complete it is missing all of the logic to add information into the database.

- The Perl script to enter information into the database tells you to visit a web site. This is fine if the script was there.

- The files are date mid 1999, I would think that since then someone from O'Reilly QA or the author himself would have noticed their mistakes. I was unaware that a Perl script or CGI scripts this long to write.

This is a real disappointment. I have really enjoyed every other O'Reilly book to date.

I think O'Reilly should either give everyone a rebate for this book or send them a new CD with CORRECT scripts! I do not believe that anyone did any QA on the CD, if they did, they sure didn't try any of the CGI scripts!

I am really sorry to have to make a post on an O'Reilly book that is so negative but this book deserves it!


Building Linux Clusters Review,  October 26 2000
Submitted by Jeanette Lawrence   [Respond | View]

This book was frought with delays - we all waited so long for this book to be published. And we would have been happy waiting even longer for a quality product that O'Reilly is known for. This book has so many mistakes, grammtical errors, syntax errors, errors on the CD and the list goes on. You have to be well versed in Linux to understand the mistakes and how to correct them.

O'Reilly would be well advised to pull this off the market until all the errors are corrected. The book has potential.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  October 24 2000
Submitted by Abhishek   [Respond | View]

Dear Spector,

Where is parse-dhcp.pl file? please mail me if you have any remote plans to help out your readers!!

Please save my precious time by mailing me parse-dhcp.pl else i will carry a pesonal bad impression of David HM Spector and OSA

Dear readers,

Books has many errors

(a). wrong Paths : you need to correct them yourself

(b). WRONG RECOMMENDED SETTINGS TO Apache Web Server

(c). KICKSTART FLOppy cant be created from Dos/Win


Building Linux Clusters Review,  October 09 2000
Submitted by AJ Cannon   [Respond | View]

I was hoping for a good primer on Beowulf clusters. I ended up with a bookend for my other, more useful, O'Reilly titles! What an absolute nightmare. I'm not familiar with the editorial process for technical books. In this case, I'm not even sure there was a process at all. Never before have I seen a technical book and software set with so few *obvious* mistakes. If I were the author or editor (if there was one) I'd be trying hard to come up with a comprehensive set of fixes for the numerous glitches and errors that plague this book. (To truly save face, a lot of bowing and scraping to customers might be in order too.) It had potential but was a big, big disappointment. If you value your customers I'd post a working CD image on this site soon.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  October 03 2000
Submitted by Eric Sandall   [Respond | View]

This book was a great dissapointment. When I was first asked to build a cluster for work I was ecstatic, especially since they purchased this book to help me setup the nodes. Well....it has some nice history in it, but that is all that I can say is good about this book. Not all of the examples work, the screenshots are off (i.e. For the video screenshot they show SCSI driver installation), the scripts do NOT work and have NOT been updated, despite the many postings in errata. I am used to O'reilly putting out quality books, but this one seemed to have been glossed over. The layout is great, but does not have the depth needed. It would be nice if OSA apologized for this great blunder and provided a revised publishing of this book and CD _WITH_ working examples, screenshots, and scripts to all of those who purchased this book.

Eric Sandall

System Administrator

ISP @ WSU


Building Linux Clusters Review,  September 25 2000
Submitted by Tom GIlbert   [Respond | View]



Awful. Don't buy this book. It is full of errors and the software on the CD doesn't work. The web-based cluster administration package is incomplete (all the cgi scripts end with the comment "# need to add this to db" but don't actually do so). Disgusted.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  September 20 2000
Submitted by Hassan Qureshi   [Respond | View]

There are too many mistakes to list here. I am looking forward to the author and publisher updating this badly needed reference.

Like other people who sent in their comments, I also was disappointed. This is not what I expected from O’Reily!




Building Linux Clusters Review,  September 17 2000
Submitted by John Booth   [Respond | View]

I strongly feel that the proofreader of a technical book like this should go through all examples and install procedures in a test lab at ORA before publishing. I have not made it as far as some of the other readers, but the first thing you use the cd for is to create the boot floppies. Using the rawrite.exe for dos or windows you find that the masternode.img and slavenode.img files are empty. I have several other books from ORA and am very disappointed with this one. It seems very hurried. The CD contains files dated 6-22-2000 and the book says published in july 2000 this doesn’t seem near enough time to proof something so complex. I am also concerned that none of the concerns of reviewers have been addressed in the errata section on this website.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  September 15 2000
Submitted by Rafael R. Pappalardo   [Respond | View]

Please use my comments for marketing purposes.

I find lots of typos and missinformation. The script to create the cluster:

parse-dhcp.pl will be available in the future. How is one supose to use the book if the first task could not be started.

I have checked twice if the publisher is ORA. Scratching the cover does not reveal any other publisher.

A complete deception.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  September 13 2000
Submitted by Erin Volk   [Respond | View]

I would suggest that someone test the final product (book & cd) before selling it to the unsuspecting linux user who simply wants to create a cluster. I encountered an enormous amount of typos, incorrect paths as well as a bevy of general mistakes, and I quickly began to question the author. As it stands I'm stuck with a nightmare pathing problem that I must fix so that I can add my cluster and nodes via Netscape because the alternative is not available. Hindsight tells me that I should've just spent the evening at the bar with the $44.95 knowing it would have resulted with the same torturous headache and a lot less hassle.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  September 11 2000
Submitted by brain mao   [Respond | View]

The software on the CD does NOT work. the book
is very poorly written. tons of mistakes
and misinformation. I am very
diappointed at ORA! Do you care about your readers anymore? I am returning this book!!


Building Linux Clusters Review,  September 07 2000
Submitted by Scott Nursten   [Respond | View]

Software doesn't work. Mistakes in examples. Scripts missing from final release.
Loads of history etc which I didn't want.
I wish I could give it a zero rating. The first script you are supposed to use - called NewCluster.cgi doesn't work (and doesn't have a link). The manual perl alternative gives a

"This will be provided later...blah blah blah".

VERY DISSAPOINTING.



Building Linux Clusters Review,  August 26 2000
Submitted by Gerry Doris   [Respond | View]

It was with real anticipation that I waited for the release of Linux Clusters. I have come to expect O'Reilly books to provide technical depth without the filler that is often used by other publishers.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with Linux Clusters. I simply am not interested in the history of super computing, Seymore Cray's role, nor the antics of IBM and CDC. I just want to know how to build and use linux clusters. If I was interested in IT history I would buy a different book.

When I saw the rather comprehensive section on installing Redhat Linux I felt I had reached the end. Surely individuals intending to build clusters don't need a tutorial on installing linux?

I just could not shake the feeling that the author was including filler to get the word count up and I decided to return the book. Sadly, it looked like the last two thirds of the book actually had some real value but for me it was too little too late.


Building Linux Clusters Review,  August 19 2000
Submitted by james burgett   [Respond | View]

As The leader of a team of people building a beowulf out of donated components I must say that this book really seems to miss the mark.

1. a 4gb drive as a mimimum spec for compute nodes ? (we do it with 300 mb )

2. loading x-win onto compute nodes. why?

3. what he recommends as minimum spec exceeds donated equip ( for example I have over 300 pentium class machines none of which have a 4gb hdd. The avg is 1.6 gb) now these machines according to your book all need new hd's.)
we have been running these machines for 6 months.

4. The author states " some people recommend a minimalist approach to building hardware in a cluster." For the next version of this book please hire them.

As such I must state that this one is off target for your average cluster builder and way off for home hobby use.

To make it simple This book does not tell people how beowulfs are made in the real world only in large budget enviroments




Building Linux Clusters Review,  August 07 2000
Submitted by Daniel Curry   [Respond | View]

Well written book. Not quite ste-by-step, but close. Just a warning note; not all pieces are included on CD, or if are, are not installed correcly when executing Mr. Spector's scripts. One notable exception is aimk which is used for almost all of the example applications. This book nor subject is for the linux newbie, for the install screenshots in the book are out of order.

But still a good work. My thanks go to Mr Spector for his assistance in getting my 101 node cluster running.

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