Microsoft has beefed up it NT clustering capabilities with the acquisition of fault tolerance software Developer Valence research for an undisclosed sum. The software giant is to offer Valence’s Convoy Cluster- renamed Microsoft Windows NT Load Balancing Service - as a standard component of WindowsNT Server Enterprise Edition. The technology complements the clustering subsystem already used in Enterprise Edition, the company said. Shipping and pricing details will be announced later this year. Microsoft is already a customer for Convoy Cluster, which it uses to safeguard its own high-traffic Internet sites. ®