Microsoft looks to gain a foothold in high-performance computing
Microsoft slams Linux for 'support issues'
/v3-uk/news/2005039/microsoft-slams-linux-support-issues
19 Sep 2005, Ken Young , V3
Microsoft has accused Linux of having "support issues" as the Redmond giant unveiled the first beta of its Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Solution operating system for high-performance computing (HPC).
The new software clusters four, eight, 32 and 64 machines, and has the ability to run jobs across different machines with different requirements and memory demands.
Microsoft is looking for increased leverage in its bid to gain a foothold in HPC installations, most of which are dominated by Linux.
Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows Server division, told delegates at the company's Professional Developer Conference: "[Open source] applications are not integrated into companies' Linux environments. They are built on one-off environments so there's no consistency. There are real support issues."
James Governor, founder of analyst firm Red Monk, said: " Microsoft's position has been almost non-existent. NT was not something that you would use in an HPC environment.
"But HPC is important because it drives some bragging and drives some customer buying behaviour further down the chain. Server 2003 Compute Cluster is about five years late but it was still critical for Microsoft to do this."
In its bid to unseat the hugely successful Apache server software, Microsoft has distributed its first developer release of the next version of IIS.
IIS 7.0, part of Longhorn Server due in 2007, copies the modular approach favoured by Apache. This will make it easier to add or remove services, and launch the web server without rebooting.
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Do you agree?
What do microsoft expect
Much of Linux software is free, the ones that aren't are much cheaper than Microsoft. Bill gates and microsoft have produced hugely expensive but shoddy software for years. Yes windows is a convenient and easy to use OS but it's full of bugs and even windows XP has issues with stability. Microsoft have had a near monopoly and it's only recently that they have started to take security issues seriously. I'm looking forward to the day when Linux becomes a real challenger in the OS market.
This is the pot calling the kettle black.
Posted by Peter Lockhart, 19 Sep 2005
This is HILARIOUS!
I can't believe Microsoft would have the gall to do this!!
Hello?? MICROSOFT DOES NOT SUPPORT WINDOWS. Have you ever tried to call Microsoft to get support for some Windows issue? I have, and there is simply *nobody home*.
I suppose their idea is that you're supposed to "work with your OEM". The trouble is that they seem not to know any more than we do.
If you use Windows - good luck. You're on your own.
Posted by pigpen, 19 Sep 2005
Windows support non-existant
Use an OEM version of Windows and call support and what do they tell you?
"Go talk to the company you bought the product from."
Well, that'd work if they created Windows, had access to the source code or knew all the announced and unnanounced bugs in the OS. But only Microsoft knows this, as they're the ones who created the operating system, so they should be the ones to support it.
Posted by Linux user, 20 Sep 2005
Yawn
That's funny, my Beowulf cluster
has no limit on nodes, is completely free and has a wonderful support community. Go back to bed, Ballmer.
Posted by Matt Wright, 19 Sep 2005
HA HA HA!
This is the most hilarious thing I ever read. Ever try to call MS for software support if you're not a major, multi-national coorporation with very deep pockets? Nobody home. If you call your OEM with a Windows software problem, they say to reboot the machine and if you do get a hold of MS support, they say call your OEM. What a joke.
Posted by Buldir, 19 Sep 2005
Yeah, whatever
I can't remember the last time I was able to discuss my problems with the actual Microsoft developer who wrote the feature I'm having trouble with. On the other hand, if I post a question in the right forum, newsgroup, or mailing list, Alan Cox and half a dozen other famous and lesser known OSS developers respond within minutes or hours.
Posted by David Finch, 19 Sep 2005
LOL
Whats worse Sun support or MS support.
I'll stick with my Suse box... thanks!
Posted by Bill GOat, 20 Sep 2005
Stupid...
If you need good support I suggest you switch to Gentoo Linux. Very fast response from the most knowledgable people at no charge.
Posted by kalle, 20 Sep 2005
Thanks for the laugh!
That's a funny one. This coming from a company whose idea of support is 'Reboot' and 'Re-install'
That's almost as funny as using a single-user OS like windows for anything remotely resembling enterprise computing.
That was a joke right?
Posted by Nicholas Donovan, 20 Sep 2005
Microsoft support in a nutshell
Microsoft:
1st call) Reboot
2nd call) Reinstall
3rd call) Wait for the next version.
Linux:
ad 1st) No need to reboot
ad 2nd) No need to reinstall
ad 3rd) Either somebody else has fixed the problem or you can do it yourself.
The above list proves it: Linux has really a support problem!
Posted by Hans Bezemer, 20 Sep 2005
Ooooh dear, my sides are aching from laughing.
Let's see - I have a team of computer engineers who have put together a Linux cluster with 120 nodes, but the next time I need more processing power I think I'll pay $$$ for MS Windows. After all, people who assemble superclusters will obviously have a problem with support if they use Linux. And we all know that MS is a leader in high-performance high-availability systems. I just have one question:
HOW MANY TIMES PER DAY DOES IT NEED A REBOOT?
Posted by Some Scientist, 20 Sep 2005
How about Linux Slams Microsoft?
With all the years Microsoft have been around causing problems for computers, businesses, government organisations, and educational institutions...I'm sure Linux would have no problem slamming Microsoft into and through the side of a building.
The difference is Linux doesn't have a marketing department!
Posted by whizzkid, 21 Sep 2005
Well, then, use BSD.
.
Free/NetBSD support:
1. Discover problem.
1a (optional) RTFM, UTSL.
2. Ask on mailing list.
3. Get flamed if you didn't DTRT and RTFM first (justifiably so).
4. $ send-pr
5. Engage in followup discussion.
6. Discover PEBKAC.
7. Change email addy.
OpenBSD support:
1. Discover problem.
1a.
2.
3. Flamed by Theo, personally.
4....
, Theo.
Quite frankly, if you can run BSD, you seldom need "support", especially the kind you might expect from a typical helpdesk, or even some MSCE's....
Posted by dalecosp, 21 Sep 2005