Distributed Climate Prediction For Linux: Pending

saintp writes "Inspired by earlier discussions about distributed computing initiatives, I emailed the good folks at Climateprediction.net to inquire about a linux client. And, the good news: There will be one. No update yet to their system requirements, but here's what they told me: 'There is certainly a Linux version planned (in fact, already existing), but we are a small team and can only set up the infrastructure to support distributed experiments under one O/S at a time. Running climate models is substantially more ambitious in terms of machine requirements, data generated, security headaches etc than any other distributed computing project we know of, so developing a generic O/S independent client is simply not feasible. As soon as the Windows version is safely launched, the Linux version will be our next priority.' Hopefully, we'll see it sometime in November or December."

Comments

Paradigms?

[Anonymous Coward]

I currently work the room next door to one of the national representatives in Kyoto protocol negotiations. She dismissed that site, and climate modelling in general, as "We do not believe in modelling".

She is 28 years old, has a past in Greenpeace, doesn't understand chemistry, doesn't know math, doesn't know computers, but is very good at negotiating without rational arguments.

My question, is she right? Should we trust in climate models? Or, am I just an old fart still stuck in the scientific paradigm? ;)

Business model?

[Bluedove]

How's this for a preliminary stab at a distributed computing organization business model:

Each computing unit (whatever size) is allocated a price based on demand. You can use the units at the given price, or you can generate the computing units (have other peoples jobs run on your machine) at $0.50 on the dollar. Your account is tracked/stored with the organization.

The benefits are as follows:

-Your spare computing units are automatically contracted out at a competitive price. You can (arguably) make money doing it with all those spare computers laying about.

-You can stockpile computing units to be used later in your research. (Make your computer work for you even while in the reading phase).

-If you have a project where you need units, but don't have time to contribute, you can simply buy the distributed processing time.

-You could enhance your effective computing time by contributing at peak times (when the price is highest) and processing at off peak times (when the price is lowest). You will effectively have improved your computer.