Windows HPC Server 08 and Ferrari Go for a Drive
While Microsoft and Ferrari are brand names that get instant recognition all over the 7 continents, there aren’t that many people who know about the long-lasting partnership between the two companies. The latest collaboration between the two involves testing Windows HPC Server 2008.
The software will be put through its paces as Ferrari will make use of it during three key stages: engineering, design, and development. According to Piergiorgio Grossi, head of information systems with the Ferrari Racing Department, the two companies have one thing in common – the search for cutting edge technology. Ferrari wants this in order to stay ahead in the F1 competition, while Microsoft simply wants to develop an ideal software solution.
High-performance computing continues to be mainly dominated by Linux-based machines. Microsoft is confident that HPC Server 2008 has the abilities to overturn the situation in favor of Windows. Even Grossi agrees that that the software has the potential to do this, but for now they will keep 90% of the Ferrari “computing system†running on Linux (just as they have done since 2004).
Although getting Ferrari to use HPC Server 2008 is a huge publicity boost for Microsoft, Grossi has made sure to emphasis the fact that the Ferrari team do not favor Windows over Linux, or vice versa. All Ferrari cares about is making good use of any tool that can give it an edge, any tool that can give it that extra push.
On a personal note, this whole thing reminds me of a joke I heard back in the day, which went something like this. Ferrari and Microsoft joined hands to create the best sports car in the world. Ferrari would take care of the mechanical part, while Microsoft would tackle the electronics. They finally put out a prototype and the test driver takes it for a spin. It all goes fine until he decides to put on the break – a big pop-up appears on the dash: “Are you sure you want to break?â€
The software will be put through its paces as Ferrari will make use of it during three key stages: engineering, design, and development. According to Piergiorgio Grossi, head of information systems with the Ferrari Racing Department, the two companies have one thing in common – the search for cutting edge technology. Ferrari wants this in order to stay ahead in the F1 competition, while Microsoft simply wants to develop an ideal software solution.
High-performance computing continues to be mainly dominated by Linux-based machines. Microsoft is confident that HPC Server 2008 has the abilities to overturn the situation in favor of Windows. Even Grossi agrees that that the software has the potential to do this, but for now they will keep 90% of the Ferrari “computing system†running on Linux (just as they have done since 2004).
Although getting Ferrari to use HPC Server 2008 is a huge publicity boost for Microsoft, Grossi has made sure to emphasis the fact that the Ferrari team do not favor Windows over Linux, or vice versa. All Ferrari cares about is making good use of any tool that can give it an edge, any tool that can give it that extra push.
On a personal note, this whole thing reminds me of a joke I heard back in the day, which went something like this. Ferrari and Microsoft joined hands to create the best sports car in the world. Ferrari would take care of the mechanical part, while Microsoft would tackle the electronics. They finally put out a prototype and the test driver takes it for a spin. It all goes fine until he decides to put on the break – a big pop-up appears on the dash: “Are you sure you want to break?â€
