Source: Data Center Knowledge
Summary
Microsoft has introduced H200 clusters in its data center, a high-performance computing (HPC) solution for on-premises deployment. The H200 clusters will be part of the Azure Stack HCI solution, allowing customers to run HPC workloads on-premises. According to Microsoft, this is the first time a manufacturer has deployed H200 clusters in a data center on-site. The solution is designed for organizations that require high-performance computing for applications such as genomics, financial modeling, and simulations.
Our Reading
The launch follows a familiar script.
Microsoft brings HPC to the data center with H200 clusters, because what’s old is new again. Azure Stack HCI gets a boost, because on-premises is the new cloud. Microsoft claims to be the first manufacturer to do this, because being first is what matters. The H200 clusters are for serious computing, like genomics and financial modeling, because regular computing just won’t cut it. And, of course, it’s all about the “high-performance” because “regular-performance” just doesn’t sound as exciting. Microsoft is just rebranding the same old concept of “fast computers” and calling it innovation.
Author: Evan Null
Déjà Vu All Over Again
It seems like we’ve seen this before – a company touting a new technology that’s just a rehashing of old ideas. The H200 clusters are just the latest example of this phenomenon.
The “First” Mover Advantage
Microsoft claims to be the first manufacturer to deploy H200 clusters in a data center on-site. But what does this really mean? Is it a significant achievement or just a marketing gimmick?
High-Performance Computing for the Masses
The H200 clusters are designed for organizations that require high-performance computing for applications such as genomics, financial modeling, and simulations. But will this technology really make a difference for the average user?
The Cloud is Dead, Long Live the Data Center
Microsoft’s Azure Stack HCI solution brings HPC to the data center, a move that seems to go against the trend of cloud computing. Is this a sign that the cloud is losing steam?
Innovation or Iteration?
Is Microsoft’s introduction of H200 clusters truly innovative or just an iteration of existing technology? The answer lies somewhere in between.
