Install cluster - Please help !!!

Hi all, 
 
We are going to setup a cluster of 16 identical nodes and 1 master node. We've 
already have hardware setup now we have to install software to make it run as a 
cluster. The way we want our cluster work is as follows: users will send their 
requests to the master node; master node will distribute the requests to the 
other nodes; the cluster should work with any application software.  
Our problem is we don't know what software we should use to make a cluster and 
how to setup a cluster.  We would appreciate very much if you could give us 
your advice. 
 
Thank you very much, 
 
Co Ngo 
Dept. of Biology, NMSU