TeraGrid, which is already the world's largest open computer, storage and networking system (exceeded only by the U.S. government's weapons-testing labs, which is "closed, " or isolated inside one institution), uses 16 different computer platforms and runs seven different operating systems.

FORBES: Federal Agency To Donate $150M To Grid Project

As with any bare-bones kit, you'll need to install your own memory, storage, wireless networking components and operating system.

ENGADGET

Potential participants include users and producers of systems and components for telecommunications carriers, Internet exchanges, financial markets, data centers, multiple system operators (MSOs) networking systems, high-performance computing, network storage and servers and other individuals interested in future IEEE 802.3 Ethernet wireline standards.

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