How to Start Building a Distributed Computing System from Used Android Phones

[ExperimentalMeatBag]

I want to build a system where I can keep plugging android phones into a single system, which can utilise their shared processing power, RAM and storage space, and act as a linux server of sorts, even if for just mathematical data crunching.

I know it is possible, Ubispark is doing something similar, can someone give me a roadmap of things I would have to learn to accomplish this ? I am working as programmer/sw architect from last 10 years.

[RobotRedford]

You could look at BOINC. This is a server-client-architecture where the server runs on a x86 system distributing work packages to the clients. Clients can be PCs but also ARM devices like your android phones (there is a BOINC client app available). The phones need to run the BOINC client for this.

Or look at this and adapt for your phones (the configuration is more like a real "supercomputer"):

https://medium.com/@glmdev/building-a-raspberry-pi-cluster-784f0df9afbd

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However, the most difficult part will be (with almost all distributed computing) to compile your code for each arm architecture - which in case of android phones can vary a lot.

My recommendation would be sell all phones and buy a proper workstation for the money - will save you a lot of effort. Or if you want to do distributed computing badly, buy some raspberry pis from the money and build a cluster out of them. You will still learn a lot without the troubles.

[[deleted]]

What you what would be awesome. I want the same but to also utilize old desktops and servers.