The word 'beowulf' refers to a class of parallel computers. A Beowulf-class computer is a cluster computer composed of bare-bones computers (generally cheap ones, containing only a processor, memory, and a network card) connected with fast networking. Special system software allows all the individual computers in the cluster to work together efficiently. Beowulfs were developed as a cheap alternative to buying a monolithic supercomputer, and can be put together from generally accessible parts.