Jason's Computer Science Blog » Project http://www.jasonernst.com By Jason Ernst Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:04:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Update on the Lack of Updates & PhD Acceptance http://www.jasonernst.com/2009/04/12/update-on-the-lack-of-updates/ http://www.jasonernst.com/2009/04/12/update-on-the-lack-of-updates/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:07:49 +0000 Jason Ernst http://www.jasonernst.com/?p=643 Just a quick post to let any readers know why there has been a lack of posts on the blog lately. I have been working like crazy on my thesis with the hope of completing it in the next month or so. I have also been preparing for the AINA 2009 conference I will be presenting at Bradford University in England. Also I have been working on a paper for a conference in Toronto (TIC-STH 2009 I think) with a deadline of May 1st May 31st (extended). So there’s been alot going on and not much time.

As soon as I get the thesis completed though I hope to post alot more new content on the blog (as well as a potential redesign since this one seems a little cluttered and busy to me). Check back soon for alot more in-depth info on using ns3 since that is what I have been using for my thesis experiments lately. Update: I am set to defend on May 18th at Guelph. Let me know if you are interested in attending, I will provide more details via email.

In other news, the University of Guelph has officially accepted me to their Ph.D program to start in the Fall of this year (still under Dr. Denko) so I am pretty excited about having the opportunity to continue my research in Wireless Networks. I am still waiting on responses from a couple of other schools (Waterloo & Calgary) so if I end up getting accepted to either of those I will have quite a decision to make. Update: I have accepted a position at the University of Guelph and will be starting there in the fall of 2009.

]]> http://www.jasonernst.com/2009/04/12/update-on-the-lack-of-updates/feed/ 6 Cluster Computer Case Suggestions? http://www.jasonernst.com/2008/10/01/cluster-computer-case-suggestions/ http://www.jasonernst.com/2008/10/01/cluster-computer-case-suggestions/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:00:33 +0000 Jason Ernst http://www.jasonernst.com/?p=96 So I’ve recently come across a bunch of free computers and I’ve decided to try to hook them together to form a beowulf style cluster for running some of my simulations on since I think I can modify the code to be parallel. I have tested all of the computers and have them spread across my basement floor however I seem to have a problem. I need a way to enclose them into some sort of case or storage area. I don’t want to use wood and have been exploring some kind of plexiglass or similar material without much luck. So far the best idea I’ve seen has been the “Microwulf“.

microwulf clusterMicrowulf Cluster

Anyway, until I start to actually build thing I have decided that I would try to get suggestions through this blog and maybe through some forums on what materials I could use to get these motherboards organized in a reasonable way. (Note: I have extremely limited handyman type skills and a low budget since I’m a student.) Keep in mind that I need a way to not only house the motherboards but also power supplies, a couple of switches and maybe some hard drives. I have 15 working computers so far and do not want to use the standard pc cases because I don’t want a wall of computers in my house. Feel free to offer up any suggestions and check back soon for pictures of the progress!

Update: I have added a project page for the SCrappy Cluster

]]> http://www.jasonernst.com/2008/10/01/cluster-computer-case-suggestions/feed/ 1 Distributed Screen Saver Project http://www.jasonernst.com/2008/09/10/distributed-screen-saver-project/ http://www.jasonernst.com/2008/09/10/distributed-screen-saver-project/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:52:21 +0000 Jason Ernst http://www.jasonernst.com/?p=73 A couple of days ago while trying to stay awake while my simulations ran for hours, I came across this website: Electric Sheep. It seems like a really cool idea. It is a “distributed screensaver” that makes use of genetic algorithms to progress and improve itself. If the people who are using the screensaver press a button they can rate the screensaver good. This is then used as part of the fitness function in the genetic algorithm allowing the good screensavers to be carried along into the next generations.

Once I get some time I think I’ll try it out. Since I’m on the topic of distributed screensavers… I seem to becoming more interested in distributed systems lately. The one that seems to be fascinating me the most is the DIY beowulf servers. I think this is because I just spent ages waiting for my last round of simulations because of one portion of the simulation that uses clique enumeration / maximal cliques. According to some papers I’ve quickly browsed over this problem is known to be hard to solve so perhaps I could make use of some sort of parallel solution to speed things up.

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