14 DAY TRIAL // While it has wrapped up Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 SP1/RTM, Microsoft is still hammering away at a bit of unfinished business related to its latest server operating system. Just like Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, the successor of Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, Windows HPC Server 2008 is yet to be finalized. However, Microsoft has reached another milestone this month by making available for download a new Community Technology Preview of Windows HPC Server 2008, as of April 22, 2008.
"Please see the latest Community Technology Preview (CTP) release of Windows HPC Server 2008 at the beta program community site Microsoft Connect. If you aren't yet a registered beta program participant, then you'll first need to join the program using the same web site," explained Phil Pennington, Windows Server Technical Evangelism.
Windows HPC Server 2008 is a platform dedicated exclusively to the high-performance computing market. In this context, Windows HPC Server 2008 is essentially a version of 64-bit Windows Server 2008 designed specifically to deliver cluster-based supercomputing.
"This CTP release includes the HPC Pack which may be installed on any x64 edition of Windows Server (an evaluation version is also available for download) as well as the HPC Pack SDK (for developing HPC applications) and the HPC Pack OPK (for OEMs preparing HPC offerings). Be sure to provide feedback on the CTP features using the Feedback Tool on the Connect website," Pennington added.
Microsoft offered the first taste of Windows HPC Server 2008 in mid November 2007, with the start of the beta testing program for the platform. According to the initial timetable outlined by the Redmond company, general availability of Windows HPC Server 2008 is expected in the second half of 2008. Back in November, Microsoft revealed that it plans to continue releasing CTP builds of Windows HPC Server 2008 until May 2008.