Uploaded October 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Distributing computation across many different machines creates a lot of challenges. So why not just build a single computer with enough storage to hold the entire internet and powerful enough to search the whole internet quickly? The answer involves a small diversion into computer hardware, as well as some interesting lessons about the tradeoffs between cost, complexity, and reliability in computer systems.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.
Distributing computation across many different machines creates a lot of challenges. So why not just build a single computer with enough storage to hold the entire internet and powerful enough to search the whole internet quickly? The answer involves a small diversion into computer hardware, as well as some interesting lessons about the tradeoffs between cost, complexity, and reliability in computer systems.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.
