[Beowulf] How Can Microsoft's HPC Server Succeed?

[Greg Byshenk]

On Wed, Apr 02, 2008 at 03:04:28PM -0700, Jon Forrest wrote:
 
> But, the question remains. How can Microsoft compete with free?
> How much better will they have to be than standard Linux
> clusters before they get any mainstream interest? What technical
> features could they add that couldn't be added to a Linux
> cluster?

The thing to remember is that a cluster (even one running "free" --
as in beer -- software) is not without cost. Apart from hardware,
licenses (if required), etc., a business will also have to find 
(and pay) someone to build and maintain the cluster.

A former co-worker of mine now works elsewhere, at a company where
they are looking to build a cluster for some research he will be
doing, and it will almost certainly run Windows. And this is not
because there is something "better" about Windows, but because they
are a Windows shop, and thus the cost of hiring or training staff
would more than outweigh any savings on licenses.
 

-- 
Greg Byshenk  -  gbyshenk at byshenk.net  -  Leiden, NL