title: birgHPC: creating instant computing clusters for bioinformatics and molecular dynamics.
abstract: birgHPC, a bootable Linux Live CD has been developed to create high-performance clusters for bioinformatics and molecular dynamics studies using any Local Area Network (LAN)-networked computers. birgHPC features automated hardware and slots detection as well as provides a simple job submission interface. The latest versions of GROMACS, NAMD, mpiBLAST and ClustalW-MPI can be run in parallel by simply booting the birgHPC CD or flash drive from the head node, which immediately positions the rest of the PCs on the network as computing nodes. Thus, a temporary, affordable, scalable and high-performance computing environment can be built by non-computing-based researchers using low-cost commodity hardware.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The birgHPC Live CD and relevant user guide are available for free at http://birg1.fbb.utm.my/birghpc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. teonghan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Teong Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: Kwee Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Joyce-Tan
authors.forename: Farizuwana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akma
authors.forename: Mohd Shahir
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shamsir
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D003205:Computing Methodologies; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D012984:Software