# CommC: A Multi-Purpose COMModity Hardware Cluster
###### Abstract
Our proposed system architecture expands the lifespan of systems deemed obsolete and will eventually deteriorate the E-waste issue that our planet suffers from. **Our contribution**: The CommC system introduces a novel approach to leveraging commodity hardware for cost-effective, scalable, and multi-purpose computing. Unlike traditional cloud-based or high-performance computing (HPC) cluster solutions, CommC integrates virtualization (Proxmox VE) and container orchestration (Kubernetes and Docker) within the same physical infrastructure, optimizing resource utilization while maintaining workload isolation. This hybrid model allows organizations to repurpose under-utilized hardware, providing a low-cost alternative to expensive cloud services while retaining flexibility. One of the core contributions of CommC is its cost-efficiency. By utilizing open-source technologies, CommC offers a self-managed cloud-like environment without incurring vendor lock-in or recurring subscription fees. Our benchmarking results demonstrate significant cost reductions compared to cloud providers such as Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, making it an ideal solution for medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, and educational organizations. Additionally, CommC ensures scalability and adaptability, dynamically adjusting resource allocation based on workload demands. In the current system state, an administrator is responsible for the resource allocation task. Our real-world experiments validate its ability to handle machine learning, big data analytics, and web services efficiently. Beyond cost and performance benefits, CommC contributes to environmental sustainability by extending the lifespan of older hardware. By repurposing existing systems, the platform helps mitigate electronic waste (E-waste), offering a greener alternative to cloud computing, which relies on energy-intensive data centers. Furthermore, CommC enhances security and fault tolerance by leveraging KVM-based virtualization and Kubernetes security policies, ensuring workload isolation, access control, and resilience against cyber threats. _Our novelty_: The CommC system was developed as a direct response to the high cost of cloud infrastructure, which often makes large-scale computing inaccessible to medium sized enterprises, research institutions, and educational organizations. Even though cloud platforms like Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure offer scalable computing solutions, their recurring costs, data transfer fees, and vendor lock-in present significant financial and operational challenges. Many organizations face the dilemma of either investing in expensive cloud services or struggling with underutilized local hardware, which remains idle for large portions of the day. CommC bridges this gap by providing a scalable, cloud-like environment that repurposes existing hardware into a cost-efficient and high-performance computing cluster. Additionally, CommC enables cost savings of up to 6\(\times\)-8\(\times\) compared to cloud platforms by eliminating compute instance rental fees, storage costs, and network egress charges. Instead of paying for cloud infrastructure that scales with usage, organizations using CommC can leverage their own underutilized hardware, transforming idle machines into an efficient computing cluster. Beyond cost efficiency, CommC promotes sustainability by extending the lifespan of commodity hardware, reducing electronic waste (E-waste), and lowering energy consumption compared to large cloud data centers. Unlike hyperscale cloud providers, which operate energy-intensive facilities, CommC runs on local infrastructure, offering a greener alternative without sacrificing computational power. In summary, the proposed architecture was designed to eliminate the financial and operational barriers of cloud computing by offering an affordable, scalable, and secure alternative that enables organizations to fully utilize their existing hardware investments.