Local-area and wide-area computing: architectures and tools

In this paper, recent architectural approaches and tools for local-area and wide-area computing using clusters of servers, workstations, and PCs as multicomputers (i.e. parallel computing in workstation cluster) are classified and described. The goal of such systems is to concentrate available computing resources to solve computing problems. A special focus of this contribution is a description of recent research in the field of cost-efficient parallel computing with standard component multicomputer systems, concentrating on locally organized clusters for local-area computing and on wide-area multiclusters (hyperclusters or clusters of clusters) for wide-area computing. Selected examples are given demonstrating the improvement through high-speed interconnection networks and optimized protocol system architectures in local-area systems and optimized organizations in wide-area systems.