Windows HPC Server 2008

Written by IT News on 8:21 AM

High Performance Computing is no doubt at the opposite pole from ordinary computers. But Microsoft is working to make a difference, and at the same time, mainstream and HPC can never be interconnected concepts, Windows for supercomputers are really open the door to more high-performance customers. According to the Redmond giant companies in the manufacturing sector have steered clear of HPC because of the high level of leadership requires, proprietary systems and the complex architectures that are offered.

"In manufacturing, you can easily classify HPC applications broadly into two categories, the first is the traditional simulation techniques such as the Automotive Crash Simulation in which you try to predict the structural problem in the car during a collision event or CFD in which you try [to] Predict airflow over the airplane wing. The second category is high-tech industry for the EDA and software to build parallel processing," revealed Tejas Karmarkar an HPC solution specialist at Microsoft.

With Windows Compute Cluster 2003 and Windows Server 2008 HPC Microsoft aims to streamline high-performance computing to potential customers. The constant development in terms of hardware has made 8 CPU blade affordable when it comes to price, but not the same thing applies to programs that are designed to run on HPC infrastructure.

"Microsoft is doing its part by developing integrated platform and tools for HPC environments with a focus on users, administrators and developers who can benefit from the technological advances in this area to solve the larger and more complex technical problems," Karmarkar added.

The main benefit associated with Windows for supercomputers, is not the platform itself but intimate integration with additional Microsoft software. Karmarkar mentioned Active Directory, Windows Deployment Services, and Microsoft Systems Center are among the technologies that will play well with their HPC versions of Windows.

"Many of our manufacturing customers are adopting or looking to adopt Microsoft's HPC technology here are a few recent examples. Callaway Golf new HPC cluster gives an eightfold increase in performance, will help engineers make far more productive and strengthen their ability to deliver innovative, high-quality products. Procter & Gamble was able to deploy a fully functional Windows-based cluster in just a few hours compared to two weeks or more before, "Karmarkar said.