Clustering is a powerful concept and technique for deriving extended capabilities from existing classes of components. In the field of computing systems, clustering is being applied to render new systems structures from existing computing elements to deliver capabilities that through other approaches could easily cost ten times as much. In recent years clustering hardware and software have evolved so that today potential user institutions have a plethora of choices in terms of form, scale, environments, cost, and means of implementation to meet their scalable computing requirements. Some of the largest computers in the world are cluster systems.
But clusters are also playing important roles in medium-scale technical and commerce computing, taking advantage of low-cost, mass-market PC-based computer technology. These Beowulf-class systems have become extremely popular, providing exceptional price/performance, flexibility of configuration and upgrade, and scalability.