The Aspen Beowulf Cluster Management Software (ABC) supports the operations of a Linux® Beowulf cluster. ABC has the ability to perform mission critical, mission non-critical and mission support functions across a Beowulf cluster. These functions empower an administrator of such a cluster with the ability to install nodes, upgrade the operating system and components, as well as manage and monitor all nodes within a cluster -- all from a single integrated application over a secure, password-encrypted login and transport.