Editing Multiprocessing (section)

====Loosely coupled multiprocessor system====
{{main | shared nothing architecture}}
Loosely coupled multiprocessor systems (often referred to as [[Computer cluster|clusters]]) are based on multiple standalone relatively low processor count [[commodity computer]]s interconnected via a high speed communication system ([[Gigabit Ethernet]] is common). A Linux [[Beowulf cluster]] is an example of a [[loose coupling|loosely coupled]] system.

Tightly coupled systems perform better and are physically smaller than loosely coupled systems, but have historically required greater initial investments and may [[depreciation|depreciate]] rapidly; nodes in a loosely coupled system are usually inexpensive commodity computers and can be recycled as independent machines upon retirement from the cluster.

Power consumption is also a consideration. Tightly coupled systems tend to be much more energy-efficient than clusters. This is because a considerable reduction in power consumption can be realized by designing components to work together from the beginning in tightly coupled systems, whereas loosely coupled systems use components that were not necessarily intended specifically for use in such systems.

Loosely coupled systems have the ability to run different operating systems or OS versions on different systems.