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'''Commodity computing''' is computing done on commodity computers as opposed to supermicrocomputers or boutique computers. '''Commodity computers''' are computer systems manufactured by multiple vendors, incorporated components based on [[open standard]]s. Such systems are said to be based on [[commodity]] components since the standardization process promotes lower costs and less differentiation among vendor's products.
In the beginning, computers were large, expensive, complex and proprietary. The move towards commodity computing began when [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] introduced the [[PDP-8]] in 1965. This was a computer that was relatively small and inexpensive enough that a department could purchase one without convening a meeting of the board of directors. The entire [[minicomputer]] industry sprang up to supply the demand for 'small' computers like the PDP-8. Unfortunately, each of the many different brands of minicomputers had to stand on their own because there was no software and very little hardware compatibility between them.
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When 10 gigabit Ethernet becomes standard equipment in commodity microcomputer servers, multi-processor [[Computer cluster|cluster]] or [[grid]] systems based on off-the-shelf commodity microcomputers and Ethernet switches will take over more and more computing tasks that can currently be performed only by high end models of proprietary supermicros like the IBM p-series, further eroding the viability of the supermicro industry.
== Commodity PCs ==
A large part of the current commodity computing marketplace is based on [[IBM PC compatible]]s.
This typically means systems that are capable of running [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Linux]], or [[PC-DOS]]/[[MS-DOS]], without requiring special drivers.
Some of the general characteristics of a commodity computer are:
* Shares a base instruction set common to many different models.
* Shares an architecture (memory, I/O map and expansion capability) that is common to many different models.
* High degree of mechanical compatibility, internal components ([[CPU]], [[RAM]], [[motherboard]], peripheral cards, drives) are interchangeable with other models.
* Software is widely available off the shelf.
* Compatible with most available peripherals, works with most right out of the box.
Other characteristics of today's commodity computers include:
* [[ATX]] motherboard footprint
* Built-in interfaces for [[floppy drive]]s, [[Advanced Technology Attachment|IDE]] CDROMs and hard drives.
* Industry-standard [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] slots for expansion.
Some characteristics that are becoming common to many commodity computers and may become part of the commodity computer definition:
* Built-in [[Ethernet]] interface.
* Built-in [[USB port]]s.
* Built-in video.
* Built in interfaces for [[SATA]] drives.
== Other commodity systems ==
Standards such as [[SCSI]], [[FireWire]], and [[Fibre Channel]] help commodotize computer systems more powerful than typical PCs. Standards such as [[Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture|ATCA]] and [[Carrier Grade Linux]] are helping to commoditize [[telecommunication]]s systems. [[Blade server]]s, [[server farm]]s, and [[computer cluster]]s are also [[computer architecture]]s that exploit commodity [[hardware]].
== See also ==
* [[Commodity computer]]
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