Distributed data processing system

To coordinate distributed processing of the data files specified for the run by the set of analysis computers, the analysis computers and an analysis management computer are each configured to follow a convention regarding how the run is specified and performed. The convention includes the timing of when each run begins and ends, and the specification of the data files to be included in the run, and the identification of the analysis computers available for the run. The analysis management computer provides a mechanism through which the set of data files to be processed, and a state of processing of those files, can be communicated with available analysis computers. The analysis computers communicate their availability to participate in the run through the analysis management computer and receive information enabling each analysis computer to determine its own partitions of the set of data files to process.