Distributed Computing For Businesses?

Meostro asks: "I've run several distributed computing clients in the past, and it felt nice to contribute to these projects that are saving the world. I recently became the admin of my company's branch datacenter, so my access to computing power has gone from 4 assorted boxes up to 20 servers and around 400 desktops. My ambition has grown by equal bounds, so I want to do some distributed processing on at least a few of these. We do food warehousing and distribution, so there's no protein folding, DSP or weather modelling work that would significantly contribute to our business. I've done some simple work with optimizing routes for our trucks, but our business doesn't seem to present many other problems that require lots of processing. What are some good business-specific tasks you have used distributed or grid computing to work through?"

Comments

distcc?

[stevey]

What are some good business-specific tasks you have used distributed or grid computing to work through?

The only time I've used distributed computing for legitimate purposes was using distcc for compiling across multiple machines.

This only works if you're a software shop though ..

Try These

[Ed Almos]

1) Optimization of goods warehouse layout, use to ensure that the fastest moving stock is the easiest to get at.

2) Optimization of shipping times. If this is done right then you will get either the slowest trucks or the trucks with the greatest loads out the door first.

3) Work out the most efficient use of your loading bay(s). If movement space is limited in your loading yard then this could be a problem.

4) Examine stock levels with reference to as many external factors as you can. If it's always cold in May in your part of the world then you don't want to be stocking up on popsicles. Also, examine stock levels with reference to annual local or international events and festivals.

5) Report generation (the bean-counters always love their reports). If a report takes thirty minutes to generate on your existing system then consider re-optimizing the code for running on a cluster and see if you can get the time down.

Ed Almos
Budapest, Hungary