•United Arab Emirates University Becomes First Academic Institution in the Gulf to Deploy Windows High Performance Computing (HPC) Server 2008
Dubai, UAE: December 21, 2009: Microsoft Gulf today announced that the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has deployed the Windows High Performance Computing (HPC) Server 2008, making it the first academic institution in the Gulf to deploy Microsoft's high performance computing technologies for teaching purposes. The major objective of the collaboration between Microsoft and UAEU is around the development of a lab running Windows HPC Server 2008 for teaching the undergraduate students of the College of Information Technology (CIT) the latest developments in the fields of parallel computing and multi-core processing.
The first student lab has been set up and consists of 20 compute nodes. In its next phase, the University will deploy Windows HPC Server 2008 on 100 servers for conducting computational research. In addition, the lab will be used to train industrial HPC users from sectors such as Oil and Gas, Finance and Manufacturing.
"Our collaboration with Microsoft is part of the United Arab Emirates University's commitment to providing students with the highest levels of technical and professional training programs," said Dr. Eyad Abed, Dean of the College of Information Technology at UAEU. "An important part of that vision is creating an advanced learning environment, by having a powerful technology infrastructure that can be integrated into our curriculum. HPC Server 2008 will provide us with key capabilities that bring benefits to our teaching, learning and research processes. We have a strong relationship with Microsoft and we look forward to our long-term association with them to help us realize our vision of providing high quality technical education in the UAE."
Microsoft is also in the process of conducting several training sessions and workshops for CIT faculty members in the areas of parallel computing, multi-core processing, and scientific computing to enable them to deliver courses effectively.
"The United Arab Emirates University is a strategic partner for Microsoft and this investment reflects their commitment to providing world class technology infrastructure," said Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager, Microsoft Gulf. "Windows HPC Server 2008 makes supercomputing more accessible to end users by allowing them to harness computing power through a familiar Windows desktop environment. With Windows HPC Server 2008, Microsoft has made huge advances in performance and scaling that give users a more productive computing environment."
Windows HPC Server 2008 is based on the Windows Server 2008 operating system and is designed to increase productivity, scalability and manageability. There are three distinct areas of improvement in Windows HPC Server 2008 over its predecessors. It improves the productivity of systems administration and cluster interoperability, helps in rapid HPC application development through integration with Visual Studio 2008 and lets the user seamlessly scale from workstation to cluster.
"The Microsoft HPC and multi-core technologies allow UAEU to easily create highly scalable applications. As HPC Server 2008 is based on Windows server technology, researchers and developers benefit from the zero to flat learning curve. In contrast to other HPC technologies that are available on the market, the Microsoft HPC approach enables users to start quickly with one single solution without combining various technologies," added Dr. Torsten Langner, HPC Technology Lead, Microsoft EMEA.
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About the United Arab Emirates University
United Arab Emirates University is the premier national university in the UAE. The University has nine world class colleges, from Information Technology to Food Systems, serving the UAE and the region with world-class research and academic programs. UAEU is dedicated to the continued development of applied research programs that benefit the UAE community and the region. The University plays a significant role in leading cultural, social and economic development in the country. For more information on the university, visit: http://www.uaeu.ac.ae
The College of Information Technology provides seven degree programs, including computer systems, intelligent systems, e-commerce, information security, enterprise systems, networking, and software development. The College has a world-class faculty engaged in cutting-edge research and development, housed in a state-of-the-art instructional facility. For more information about the College, visit: http://www.cit.uaeu.ac.ae.
About Microsoft Gulf
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:'MSFT') is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Gulf opened its Dubai-based headquarters in 1991. Microsoft Gulf today oversees Microsoft activities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. Microsoft Corporation's address on the worldwide web is: www.microsoft.com and Microsoft's Gulf web site is: www.microsoft.com/gulf
This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp. disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to use of the material for other purposes. Microsoft Corp. shall not, at any time, be liable for any special, direct, indirect or consequential damages, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the material. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting any kind of warranty.
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© Press Release 2009
