14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 is the playing piece that Microsoft uses against Linux operating systems, which presently have monopoly on the high performance computing (HPC) market. The Redmond company has finalized the code and will release later this week Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 to manufacturing with an August launch date in mind.
"High performance computing technology holds great potential for expanding the opportunities within engineering, medical research, exploration and other critical human endeavors, but until now it has been too expensive and too difficult for many people to use effectively," said Bob Muglia, the senior vice president of server and tools business at Microsoft. "Microsoft is making HPC technology more mainstream by bringing the cost advantages, ease of use and partner ecosystem of the Windows Server platform to departments and divisions in commercial industry and the public sector. We want HPC technology to become a pervasive resource -- something that's as easy to locate and use as printers are today."
Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 is a 64-bit operating system for industry-standard x64 processors running in parallel, and will provide a platform designed for effectiveness and simplicity and for easy integration with already existing infrastructure. With this Microsoft will attempt to take over the leading position from Linux, which has 75% of a $9 billion market that grew 24 percent last year.
With an estimated 469$ a node, Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 will be sold via volume licensing and OEM licensing. Evaluation copies of Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 will be handed out to attendees of Microsoft's TechEd 2006.