High-availability clustering is too compelling to ignore. Typical clustering models for Unix have one server doing the work, with another standing by idle in case of failure. This active/passive approach can double hardware costs and add time and expense to deployment and management. That's a fair amount of capital to sink into unused computing resources. But the confluence of three factors may change the way clustering is approached.

First, Intel's Xeon processors offer a one-two punch of lower price and competitive performance when compared with RISC chips running Unix.

Second, the emergence of Linux for Intel servers, coupled with low-latency interconnects to bind servers together using Gigabit Ethernet or Infiniband technology, means better server communication.

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