May 8, 2006 5:10 PM PDT
Supercomputer version of Windows nears release
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Windows Server update ready to ship
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Microsoft on Monday released a near-final version of its Windows Computer Cluster Server 2003--a version of its operating system tailored to allow powerful clusters of Windows-based machines to perform high-performance computing tasks.
The product, which was originally expected last year, is now slated to be finalized by June, with about 30 customers already testing the software.
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supercomputer, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows
Oh well, here's to the virii moving around the system at the speed of 10 gigaflops plus, now that would be a world first!
Oh well, here's to the virii moving around the system at the speed of 10 gigaflops plus, now that would be a world first!
In addition, as one poster made clear, all the supercomputing experience is on other operating systems with a long history of success. How in the world, with their pricing structures, strong paternalistic attitude, history of trying to manipulate the market place, (etc) do they expect to make a serious dent in this market. It is full of tech savvy people who, for the most part, have a disdain for Windows.
I will be surprised if I am proven wrong. But I have a strange feeling, I won't be. It's their track record. A major fowl up in this arena just won't be forgiven, at all.
Yes MS is new to this area, but doesn't everything starts from fresh? And MS has all resources/know-hows needed to give us this suprise...
Let's wait
Yes MS is new to this area, but doesn't everything starts from fresh? And MS has all resources/know-hows needed to give us this suprise...
Let's wait
Apparently you have no experience in working in shops where SQL Server and other transactional processing take place. Microsoft has a long history of support for clustered environments and this will be a welcome addition for many big businesses who need more power.
In addition, as one poster made clear, all the supercomputing experience is on other operating systems with a long history of success. How in the world, with their pricing structures, strong paternalistic attitude, history of trying to manipulate the market place, (etc) do they expect to make a serious dent in this market. It is full of tech savvy people who, for the most part, have a disdain for Windows.
I will be surprised if I am proven wrong. But I have a strange feeling, I won't be. It's their track record. A major fowl up in this arena just won't be forgiven, at all.
Yes MS is new to this area, but doesn't everything starts from fresh? And MS has all resources/know-hows needed to give us this suprise...
Let's wait
Yes MS is new to this area, but doesn't everything starts from fresh? And MS has all resources/know-hows needed to give us this suprise...
Let's wait
Apparently you have no experience in working in shops where SQL Server and other transactional processing take place. Microsoft has a long history of support for clustered environments and this will be a welcome addition for many big businesses who need more power.
The up-side, is a supercluster of MSSQL. Now that would be something worth the trouble.
What are the current counter parts to this, and you can flame on like a super hero if you want, but this is not false, or some half-baked scheme. OSX (Tiger) comes with grid computing. That means every CPU using it, can act as a client. Every server using it can act as a controller. Virgina Tech, created the third fastest academic super compter (at the time) using it. COLSA, a DOD uses them to run a super cluster at 25+ teraflops. This experience to do this, really doesn't come from Apple, but as a result of years of work from other developers, scientists, and researchers. All OSX did, was make it possible for everyone to take advantage of this technology. As a result, most, if not all of the work previously done in this arena can be applied in OSX.
For reference (so you don't think I'm full of it):
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/xgrid/
COLSA implementation:
http://www.apple.com/science/profiles/colsa/
The developers:
http://www.apple.com/acg/
Bottom-line, this new Windows version MAY provide a the ability to create truly powerful SQL servers that can begin to finally compete directly with the mainframes. This is a hypothetical thought, because there are inherent limitations in MSSQL (as most PC based DBMSs), that might be able to be overcome with a cluster. Beyond that ... there is nothing in Microsofts past, and current developments, that would lead me to believe that this new version is truly a viable option.
The up-side, is a supercluster of MSSQL. Now that would be something worth the trouble.
What are the current counter parts to this, and you can flame on like a super hero if you want, but this is not false, or some half-baked scheme. OSX (Tiger) comes with grid computing. That means every CPU using it, can act as a client. Every server using it can act as a controller. Virgina Tech, created the third fastest academic super compter (at the time) using it. COLSA, a DOD uses them to run a super cluster at 25+ teraflops. This experience to do this, really doesn't come from Apple, but as a result of years of work from other developers, scientists, and researchers. All OSX did, was make it possible for everyone to take advantage of this technology. As a result, most, if not all of the work previously done in this arena can be applied in OSX.
For reference (so you don't think I'm full of it):
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/xgrid/
COLSA implementation:
http://www.apple.com/science/profiles/colsa/
The developers:
http://www.apple.com/acg/
Bottom-line, this new Windows version MAY provide a the ability to create truly powerful SQL servers that can begin to finally compete directly with the mainframes. This is a hypothetical thought, because there are inherent limitations in MSSQL (as most PC based DBMSs), that might be able to be overcome with a cluster. Beyond that ... there is nothing in Microsofts past, and current developments, that would lead me to believe that this new version is truly a viable option.
Why dont they spend their time on fixing bugs ?
Does excel now recalulate cells faster ?
This is like stringing 1000 Toyota Corollas together and claiming
the fastest car in the world.
I don't know the "official" reason but here are some possibilities:
A. Bragging rights. -- MS wants to prove that there's no area Unix is into that Windows can't be run in.
B. Familiarity. -- Coders used to writing to the windows platform now have access to super-computing capability without having to learn a new platform.
C. Rathole -- MS wants to throw money down a rathole instead of losing it in lawsuits. (I can't see how this part of the business could ever make a profit).
"Why dont they spend their time on fixing bugs ?"
They already have a number of people fixing bugs, they have an obligation to also provide new versions of existing products and completely new products. Otherwise investors will abandon their stock and the company will go bankrupt.
"Does excel now recalulate cells faster ?" Did you hear that as an objective for this project? If not why would you even think Excel would be related to this?
"This is like stringing 1000 Toyota Corollas together and claiming the fastest car in the world."
No, it's more like claiming the largest "people/cargo" capacity. That many cars can actually carry more than the largest dump truck but it'd be as foolish to buy 1000 Corollas to carry rock out of a quarry as it would be to buy one of those monster dump trucks to carry hundreds of people somewhere. You've got to look at the application to see which way is more appropriate.
Why dont they spend their time on fixing bugs ?
Does excel now recalulate cells faster ?
This is like stringing 1000 Toyota Corollas together and claiming
the fastest car in the world.
I don't know the "official" reason but here are some possibilities:
A. Bragging rights. -- MS wants to prove that there's no area Unix is into that Windows can't be run in.
B. Familiarity. -- Coders used to writing to the windows platform now have access to super-computing capability without having to learn a new platform.
C. Rathole -- MS wants to throw money down a rathole instead of losing it in lawsuits. (I can't see how this part of the business could ever make a profit).
"Why dont they spend their time on fixing bugs ?"
They already have a number of people fixing bugs, they have an obligation to also provide new versions of existing products and completely new products. Otherwise investors will abandon their stock and the company will go bankrupt.
"Does excel now recalulate cells faster ?" Did you hear that as an objective for this project? If not why would you even think Excel would be related to this?
"This is like stringing 1000 Toyota Corollas together and claiming the fastest car in the world."
No, it's more like claiming the largest "people/cargo" capacity. That many cars can actually carry more than the largest dump truck but it'd be as foolish to buy 1000 Corollas to carry rock out of a quarry as it would be to buy one of those monster dump trucks to carry hundreds of people somewhere. You've got to look at the application to see which way is more appropriate.
- Next Release SuperPatch and SuperFix
- by fileboy1 May 9, 2006 1:58 PM PDT
- Microsoft can hardly keep the desktop market from blowing up in their faces. What would make them think that the supercomputer arena was a good place to go?
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