Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!yale!venus!yale.edu!Ewing
From: Ewing@yale.edu (Martin Ewing)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Centralized vs distributed computing
Message-ID: <166.2608a879@venus.ycc.yale.edu>
Date: 22 Mar 90 15:27:03 GMT
Lines: 21

References:<9003210649.AA06750@jade.berkeley.edu> <1990Mar21.142014.20419@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov>
Organization: Yale Computing & Information Systems

In article <1990Mar21.142014.20419@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> 
xxremak@csduts1.lerc.nasa.gov (David A. Remaklus) writes:
> Checkout TCF (Transparent Computing Facility) proposed by IBM for the
> AIX platforms.  While I don't have the specifics myself, they seem to
> have created a "seamless" path from the PS/2 through the 3090.

I am not sure whether we need/want "seamless".  A hierarchical situation 
is attractive, however.  Central/decentral doesn't have to be either-or.  
I really don't want to run Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 (/M notwithstanding) on a central machine.  Responsiveness and privacy favor my local Mac.  For a big simulation program, or the company payroll, you go to the mainframe.

Another factor is cost and flexibility of software.  I can go out and buy 
package X for my little system for $100, while for a big system you're 
talking $10K and a lot of persuasion.

------------------------------------------
Martin Ewing
Yale C&IS Science and Engineering Computing Facility
203-432-4243, Ewing@Yale.Edu