Microsoft brings HPC to the mainstream

Microsoft Corporation India announced the launch of the Windows Compute
Cluster Server 2003 - its flagship product for High Performance Computing (HPC)
at TechEd in Bangalore. The Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 is Microsoft's
first software product designed specifically to run parallel, high-performance
computing applica­tions for customers solving complex computations.

Microsoft has identified academia, engineering, oil and gas and public sector
as its key focus segments in India. The company is also working with several
Indian and global ISVs, partners and hardware manufacturers to develop and
release solutions that run on, or interoperate with, Windows Compute Cluster
Server 2003. The product has already been released to manufacturing and will be
available to customers in early August 2006.

Commenting on Microsoft's entry into high performance computing, Jeff
Price, Senior Director, Windows Server Division, Microsoft Corporation said, “According
to analyst firm IDC, the high-performance and technical computing (HPTC) market
grew approximately 24 percent in 2005 to reach a record $9.2 billion in revenue,
which is the second consecutive year of 20 percent-plus growth in this market.
The HPC showed the growth over 50 percent of HPTC market revenue in the first
quarter of 2006. IDC reported that worldwide x86 HPTC cluster revenue grew 70
percent year over year (2004 to 2005). IDC indicated that high-performance
computing clusters in the lower-end capacity segments of the market will see
substantial customer adoption in the coming years. These systems represent a
significant initial opportunity for Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003.”

CyberMedia News