A Method and System for Parallel Operation and Control of Legacy Computer Clusters is disclosed. Also disclosed is a system that permits the creation of a cluster computer using the legacy operating systems already existing on the computing devices. The system is further be able to seamlessly operate over a standard wide are network, such as the "Internet," as well as over local area networks. The system further permits the individual computers to operate either as part of the cluster, or on local operations, without any need for modification to the other computers involved in the cluster. Still further, the system utilizes standard TCP/IP format for all internodal messaging. Finally, the system maintains performance "grades" for each cluster node, either by node self-grading, or by node reporting, such that the user can select which nodes to participate in a particular parallel application.