Brad Bassio gave an overview of the solution requirements that need to be addressed. Customers require an integrated and supported solution stack with a simplified job submission status and progress. There has to be a

maximum of compute performance and scalability in a simplified environment from desktops to HPC clusters. In turn the administrator requires a better cluster management.

Microsoft delviers the easiest to deploy and most cost-effective solution, according to Mr. Bassio. The Windows server and the compute cluster pack together form the Microsoft cluster. There is support for HPC hardware and for industry standards. Microsoft also provides an integrated job scheduler and cluster rsource management tools.

In brief, Microsoft can offer an integrated solution out-of-the-box, Mr. Bassio proudly stated. Microsoft has integrated departmental cluster as well as conventional scenarios. As such, it can deliver a personal/workgroup cluster. An emerging scenario is the desktop HPC. The speaker also noted that clusters are pre-packaged OEM appliances.

As for the end user scenarios, Microsoft seeks to move HPC from the computer lab by engineering IT or traditional corporate IT. It works towards a full systems administrator.

Design goals for Microsoft are an appliance like set-up experience to leverage the existing infrasturcture. Brad Bassio talked of applying an active directory for user, resource and access management. He pleaded for secure execution, resource access, and management in order to allow customers to use existing deployment tools.

Leveraging the existing Windows infrastructure can be done with an active directory, a compute cluster built-in,

Microsoft enterprise management tools and Windows security.

The Microsoft Roadmap for 2006 is to introduce the Microsoft Computer Cluster Pack. In the fall of 2005, SC 2005 will take place in Seattle with a well known - guess who? - keynote speaker, announced Brad Bassio.

Inquisitor Ad Emmen asked the speaker why Microsoft did not succeed yet in the TOP500 and why Microsoft is not working from the academic space in that area.

Brad Bassio answered that there is no eco support in HPC around Microsoft yet. Microsoft is targeted to the industry and has no focus on research and education yet.