Beowulf includes an enhanced Linux kernel, libraries, and utilities specifically designed for clustering. Beowulf provides a single system image through BProc, the Beowulf cluster process management kernel enhancement. BProc makes the processes running on cluster "Computation Node" computers visible and manageable on a front-end "Master Node". Processes start on the front-end node and migrate to a cluster node. Process parent-child relationships and UNIX job control are maintained with migrated tasks. Cluster slave nodes are not required to contain resident applications. Their hard disks are used for application data and cache. This approach eliminates version skew common with previous generation clusters.
