The Ecosystem of Windows for Supercomputers Grows

Concomitantly with the unveiling of Windows HPC Server 2008, the successor of Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, Microsoft also revealed the ecosystem of partners orbiting around Windows for Supercomputers. Windows HPC Server 2008, based on Microsoft's last 32-bit server operating system Windows Server 2008, is designed to replace Microsoft's current Windows platform for the high performance computing market Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. At this point in time, Microsoft plans to make Windows HPC Server 2008 available in the second half of 2008.

But for now, the Reldmond company has expanded its ecosystem of HPC partners centered on Windows with the addition of Computer Modelling Group Ltd. (CMG), Roxar and SPT Group. The three oil and gas software vendors delivering solutions set up to perform reservoir simulation have converted their software products tailor fitting them on Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. In Microsoft's perspective, Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 has as main advantage the fact that it integrates seamlessly with existing Windows infrastructures.

"Amplifying the impact of professionals across asset teams is of critical importance to oil and gas companies today," said Craig Hodges, U.S. energy industry solutions director at Microsoft. "By building their reservoir modeling solutions to run on Windows Compute Cluster Server, these partners provide engineers and geoscientists with accessible high-performance computing resources - at the division, workgroup and desktop levels - and empower them to more easily submit and run jobs, and analyze and gain insights to make better reservoir management decisions faster."

But the three oil and gas software vendors are by no means the sole new HPC partners Microsoft has managed to add to its ecosystem. The Redmond company also applauded Altair Engineering Inc., ANSYS Inc., CD-adapco and Livermore Software Technology Corp. for transitioning their products on Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003.

"It is critical for oil and gas supply companies and their customers to improve product quality and reduce development lead time to remain competitive," Craig added. "Companies that develop engineering simulation solutions to run on Windows Compute Cluster Server provide design engineers - even at the department level and from within small and midsize firms - with more accessible HPC to help amplify their impact by empowering them to conduct more accurate simulations to get better products to market faster."