Windows Compute Cluster

Introduction

A large proportion of the UK research community primarily use Windows or are more familiar with Windows than any other operating systems. The Centre aims to lower the barriers of more widespread HPC use by using Windows Compute Cluster Server (CCS) and its successor Windows HPCServer08 (HPCS). Since CCS was launched in the Centre in January 2007, we have rapidly adopted the new technologies in order to solve the users’ most pressing problems, most of which would be impossible to tackle in the local environment. In August 2009, we upgraded the cluster to Windows HPC Server 2008.

The Centre have conducted a variety of developments (e.g. meta scheduling with the GridBS project) and deployments (e.g. MATLAB Parallel Computing Toolbox and Globus Gateway) to enhance the capabilities of Windows HPC. Our experiences include testing and assisting in the deployment of HPC tools, applications, and systems with different providers including Microsoft, Intel, Dell, IBM, MathWorks and Red Hat.