Microsoft Cluster Server Goes Gold

Microsoft on Friday released to manufacturing Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, which is designed to run high-performance computing applications in parallel with other systems. The new product is Microsoft's first offering in a space largely dominated by UNIX and Linux.

The operating system has already been tested for oil and gas reservoir simulation, simulating enzyme catalysis and protein folding, and by car companies, Microsoft says. The company claims the falling cost of high-performance computing is helping to boost the market, which grew by 24 percent in 2005. Compute Cluster Server 2003 will cost $499 USD per node, and will be available to customers in August. Evaluation editions are available now.