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Written by Douglas Eadline and Jeff Layton

Published: 05 October 2005

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Build a Linux cluster for under $2500. That is crazy -- or maybe not. Join Doug and Jeff as they undertake this outrageous project.

Keeping an eye on hardware prices is essential if you want to become a certified cluster geek. Remember those gigabit Ethernet switches that cost an arm an a leg, or how about those DDR DIMMs. Today those price seems to be a bit more in reach. Perhaps the extreme in low prices, came when Walmart introduced a $200 PC built from "value parts" (i.e. very low cost PC hardware). Some quick math says, an eight node cluster could be built for less than $2000 and gigabit Ethernet could be added for another $500 and presto, you have yourself a cluster.