Due to the run time required for some of my mechanical event simulation models I have been looking into renting CPU time on an external computer cluster Grid.  I wanted to see if anyone has any success in doing something like this and get some advice and thoughts on doing this.  So far I have looked into the following companies offering these services, showing some of the details of their service:

1.  IBM "Blue Gene" Computer- I believe this supercomputer runs on Linux so should be able to run Algor.  They charge on CPU/hour time rate but require a yearly time purchase of $5000 which I believe is about 5000 CPU-hrs.
2. Helwett Packard Grid Computer Utility-  I am currently waiting response on the cost and logistics of this system.  From what Algor tells me this system runs both AMD and Intel processors and Linux so it will work for Algor.  I am awaiting the costs and potential sign up and use issues for this one.  I beleive Algor has to help to set up the account with HP as the software must be uploaded to them so there are probably license security issues.
3. Sun Microsystems-  Their computer grid seemed like the easy choice.  Easy sign up and navigation on their website and straight up $1/CPU-hour charges, no minumum time requirement.  Looked very user freindly but the glitch is that the computer runs the Sun Solaris platform which according to Algor won't run their program.  Maybe Sun will change that and make it more accomodating down the line.

In any event I'd like to know others users thoughts and findings on this.  I am basically getting to the point where if a rented grid won't work I am gonna bite the bullet and setup a cluster of computers in the guestroom...haha.

Phil