BAE Systems is to develop a proof-of-concept design
system for planes using a Microsoft-based grid computer system run
by the University of Southampton.
The news came as Microsoft issued a pre-release version of its
Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 (CCS), the full version of
which is due in August.
The technology effectively gives mainstream organisations
high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities, which have
traditionally only been available using large Linux and Unix server
clusters.
The University of Southampton will produce a design system for
BAE Systems using its Spitfire computer cluster. The cluster is
based on CCS servers running on dual-core AMD Opteron
processors.
The grid project aims to improve the aircraft design process by
using HPC for aerodynamic simulations.
Jamil Appa, BAE Systems’ group team leader, technology and
engineering services, said Microsoft’s entry into high-performance
grid computing meant companies could use a familiar Windows
interface to do large-scale calculations.
“We use Windows XP desktops and a Microsoft environment. Trying
to integrate that with Unix is not straightforward. The design
processes themselves are complex, and the designers would have to
be very technical. We want them to be innovators. Translating the
processes to Microsoft frees them to design,” he said.