Database Management Articles
Quest Software, Inc. has unveiled the newest version of SharePlex for Oracle, a real-time Oracle-Oracle database replication solution that supports high availability, reporting, data synchronization/integration, and load balancing on Oracle databases. Key features introduced in the new version include wildcard support, batch processing, and configuration management enhancements to SharePlex's monitoring and management dashboard, SharePlex Manager. These new features bring benefits in the areas of ease-of-use, improved performance, task automation, and managing complex replication environments.
Posted August 19, 2009
InterSystems Corporation yesterday introduced technology additions to its InterSystems CACHÉ high-performance object database. Available now in CACHÉ 2009, the new features provide enhanced web services security, reporting, and system management and monitoring.
Posted August 18, 2009
Four top Microsoft SQL Server executives will present keynote addresses at the Professional Association for SQL Server's PASS Summit Unite 2009 conference, Nov. 2-5.
Posted August 18, 2009
There are mainly four kinds of information management professionals in an OLTP environment—data architects, database architects, application DBAs and operational (or production support) DBAs. It should be the aim of an information management professional to master all the four roles and seamlessly shift between them with ease. Once you are able to shift roles easily, be assured that you're adding to the revenue of your business.
Posted August 14, 2009
The data manager's job has never been easy, often presenting significant challenges, including data system rewrites, data security, regulatory compliance, and reporting. And the digital age, with a myriad of new and innovative data sources and more sophisticated analytic models, presents its own unique hurdles to implementing a successful data-management and data-quality program in the modern insurance enterprise.
Posted August 14, 2009
New data modelers often see things as black and white. But rather than being concrete flooring beneath our feet, knowledge is more like a gossamer web that builds up layer upon layer to provide the effect of a solid foundation. We may think we know facts, such as one plus one equals two, or Columbus discovered America in 1492. What we have come to know about our world comprises our own internal knowledge base. We gain much of this knowledge because it has been passed onto us by others, people with experience, parents, educators, clever friends, verbally or in print. But how do we know such items are real, actual, absolute bona fide beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt truths?
Posted August 14, 2009
Microsoft SQL Server's relational engine has offered new instrumentation that improves by light years with each new release. The introduction of Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) in SQL Server 2005 provided a much-needed equivalent to Oracle's long-standing and capable V$ and X$ system views. SQL Server 2008 has provided another dramatic improvement to its instrumentation with Extended Events (also known as XEvents) that promises to offer even greater opportunities to tune, trace and troubleshoot the inner workings of a SQL Server application. All of this stands in stark contrast with the anemic instrumentation offered in SQL Server Analysis Services, Microsoft's wonderful multi-dimensional data repository that is a free feature-set within the SQL Server product.
Posted August 14, 2009
As the U.S. markets strive for a recovery in 2009, many IT managers are cringing at the thought of managing their data through what may be a record year of mergers and acquisitions. Managing an ever-increasing mountain of data is not a simple task in the best of times, but doing so while combining formerly separate entities during an economic slowdown can be a monumental challenge.
Posted August 14, 2009
Quest Software, Inc. has unveiled the newest version of SharePlex for Oracle, a real-time Oracle-Oracle database replication solution that supports high availability, reporting, data synchronization/integration, and load balancing on Oracle databases. Key features introduced in the new version include wildcard support, batch processing, and configuration management enhancements to SharePlex's monitoring and management dashboard, SharePlex Manager. These new features bring benefits in the areas of ease-of-use, improved performance, task automation, and managing complex replication environments
Posted August 11, 2009
Microsoft recently released a SQL Server 2008 add-in for MapPoint. MapPoint is Microsoft's business mapping application and gives users the power to visualize business data and communicate insights in a new way. It enables them to integrate maps into the work they do in Microsoft Office, and with MapPoint 2009 they also receive new geographic and demographic data, greatly enhanced GPS functionality, and a version that comes with a GPS locator.
Posted August 11, 2009
DBSophic, a developer of innovative software solutions for database performance optimization, has announced the launch of its new Trace Analyzer tool for Microsoft SQL Server. This tool, which can be downloaded free of charge from the company's website, allows users to instantly find out what is slowing down their databases by enabling them to easily pinpoint which batches or specific parameter value sets consume the most resources.
Posted August 11, 2009
Vertica, a column-oriented analytic database technology provider, has announced a new release of its Analytic Database product with new features for performance gains, increases in scale, and advanced analytics. The primary new features consist of a next-generation column-store architecture called FlexStore, MapReduce technology for advanced ETL loading and analytical processing, and load balancing via IPVS.
Posted August 04, 2009
Oracle today announced the availability of Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database 11g and Oracle In-Memory Database Cache 11g, the database caching option for Oracle Database 11g.
Posted July 28, 2009
Quest Software recently announced the forthcoming release of Toad for Oracle version 10, the de-facto standard tool for Oracle database development and administration. Toad for Oracle 10 will offer new functionality enhancements that the Toad community has been asking for, providing improved productivity, better database manageability and easier access to educational resources. Toad for Oracle 10 is the culmination of suggestions gathered from the Toad community's "wish list," incorporating many enhancements in the areas of usability, automation, education, and flexibility.
Posted July 28, 2009
Oracle said last week that it has agreed to acquire GoldenGate Software, Inc., a leading provider of real-time data integration solutions.
Posted July 28, 2009
Sybase, Inc. yesterday reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. Highlights of the quarter include historical second quarter records achieved in operating income, operating margin, net income, EPS, and cash flow; as well as license revenue that increased 4% year over year and 11% in constant currency; and database license revenue that increased 23% and 30% in constant currency. Additionally, mobile software license revenue increased 4% and 11% in constant currency.
Posted July 22, 2009
Idera, a provider of management and administration solutions for Microsoft SQL Server, has announced SQL comparison toolset v1.1, a solution that is aimed at helping DBAs save time in comparing and synchronizing SQL Server databases.
Posted July 21, 2009
IBM announced enhancements to its information infrastructure portfolio of high-end enterprise storage products designed to help businesses manage the explosive growth in data and information.
Posted July 20, 2009
HP announced that it signed a definitive deal to acquire IBRIX, a provider of enterprise-class file serving software that includes data protection, high-availability features and data management services for extreme scale-out, cloud and high-performance computing deployments.
Posted July 20, 2009
IBM announced second-quarter 2009 net income at $3.1 billion, a 12% increase over $2.8 billion in the second quarter of 2008. Total revenues for the second quarter of 2009 of $23.3 billion decreased 13% (7%, adjusting for currency) from the second quarter of 2008.
Posted July 20, 2009
While good database design is always necessary, the value of good design is reinforced by such endeavors as service-oriented architecture. The semantics-laden engineering of service-oriented tactics used in creating solutions melds seamlessly into the semantics-laden world of data modeling. Although one aspect does not necessarily build on top of the other, each works as part of a team in braiding solutions that grow in usefulness as they emerge. The processes surface as a method to further define the meaning of an object, and the object serves as a harbinger of the processes that must exist. Business rules much more advanced than today's simple constraints may one day reside within the database itself as a built-in function of a some future DBMS. Therefore, data architects should never try to wall themselves behind a veneer of thinking only in terms of data without a thought regarding the processes that touch the data. As a database designer, working within projects that use service-oriented architecture approaches can be exhilarating.
Posted July 13, 2009
Protecting the data in our enterprise databases is extremely important. But what exactly does that mean? Oh, at one level we have the database authorization and roles built directly into the DBMS products. You know what I'm talking about: GRANT and REVOKE statements that can be used to authorize access to database objects, resources and statements. Many organizations have adopted policies and products to migrate this type of security out of the DBMS and into their operating system security software.
Posted July 13, 2009
At a rather muted Microsoft TechEd in Los Angeles in May, the crowds were diminished and the educational content was slimmed down. In the past, SQL Server sessions were so abundant that you'd have trouble choosing which of several you might want to attend. This year, the state of the economy was reflected in many ways, including the one, or, in just a few cases, two sessions per time slot allotted SQL Server professionals. Despite the low ebb, the Microsoft SQL Server team made an exciting announcement about the upcoming availability of the SQL Server 2008 R2 CTP (Community Technology Preview).
Posted July 13, 2009
The PostgreSQL Global Development Group has released version 8.4 of the PostgreSQL open source database. The new release contains 293 new or improved features, including many enhancements to make administering, querying, and programming of PostgreSQL databases easier. The most numerous changes in PostgreSQL 8.4 are new or improved administration and monitoring tools and commands.
Posted July 07, 2009
Oracle Corporation announced availability of Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g, the next generation of the vendors' leading middleware product suite designed for service oriented architecture-based environments. Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g is an application infrastructure that now includes the WebLogic application server, originally offered by BEA Systems before the company was acquired by Oracle in 2008. The suite also includes a number of integrated and hot-pluggable components, including new capabilities in Oracle SOA Suite, Oracle WebLogic Suite, Oracle WebCenter Suite and Oracle Identity Management.
Posted July 07, 2009
Oracle today announced availability of Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g. This new version of the middleware suite offers increased functionality across its product portfolio, including new capabilities in Oracle SOA Suite, Oracle WebLogic Suite, Oracle WebCenter Suite and Oracle Identity Management
Posted July 01, 2009
Oracle has extended the configuration management capabilities of Oracle Enterprise Manager, with new features that focus on managing application configurations. Oracle Enterprise Manager's "top-down" approach to application management enables customers to reduce complexity and increase efficiencies in their IT environments and optimally run their enterprise applications.
Posted July 01, 2009
With end of life approaching for Sybase ASE 12.5, Sybase today announced continuing momentum for the adoption of Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) 15, which was initially introduced in 2005 and has since been followed by three more feature releases, with another one scheduled for later this year.
Posted June 24, 2009
The first of Sybase's regional Sybase TechWave Symposia will be held in Washington, D.C., Aug. 26-27, at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel. Representing a departure from Sybase's previous approach of holding one major TechWave event annually, regional events are intended to provide an opportunity to get closer to customers and prospects and to tailor content and presentations to a specific audience. The format includes keynotes from Sybase's executive leadership team, business content, exhibits and a day and a half of technical sessions.
Posted June 24, 2009
Sybase has published a new book, The New Data Imperative: Managing Real-Time Risk in Capital Markets. Written by Sybase executives, Dr. Raj Nathan, senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Irfan Khan, chief technology officer; and Sinan Baskan, director of business development for financial markets, the book provides a forward-looking perspective into the data strategies that financial firms will need to implement to effectively manage risk and gain competitive advantage in the coming years.
Posted June 24, 2009
Oracle WebLogic Server, a strategic component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, together with Oracle Enterprise Linux and Oracle Database 11g running on a Dell PowerEdge server, has set a world record dual-node result with the SPECjAppServer2004 industry standard benchmark. "With this, we currently hold the world record in all three SPECjAppServer2004 categories—single node, dual-node and multi-node," Mike Piech, senior director with Oracle Fusion Middleware, tells 5 Minute Briefing.
Posted June 17, 2009
EnterpriseDB, an enterprise open source database company, has announced the general availability of the latest version of Postgres Plus Advanced Server, the company's flagship RDBMS product, which is based on the PostgreSQL open source database (Postgres Plus). Postgres Plus Advanced Server is a commercially licensed product that adds enterprise-class functionality and increased performance to Postgres Plus. The latest version features the company's fifth-generation Oracle compatibility technology, new "Infinite Cache" that provides massive scalability at low cost by leveraging commodity hardware and eliminating custom programming, and "Asynchronous Pre-Fetch," a high-performance query solution that optimizes commodity RAID solutions and is well-suited for data warehouse and ETL queries.
Posted June 16, 2009
At the PASS Summit 2009 conference in Seattle, Wash., Nov. 2-5, 2009, the Professional Association for SQL Server will present by-invitation-only Spotlight sessions highlighting top presenters who have received high speaker ratings at past PASS Summits. Spotlight sessions are 90 minutes long, providing speakers with the opportunity to delve more deeply into their technical topics.
Posted June 16, 2009
This is a time of great change for data centers. Technology is advancing and getting smarter, and workloads and performance demands keep growing. For this issue of Database Trends and Applications, we sought a range of industry views on the most profound—and perhaps unexpected—changes reshaping data centers and enterprise it.
Posted June 15, 2009
Sybase turned in the best year in its history in 2008, followed by its best-ever first quarter in 2009. Brian Vink chats with Database Trends and Applications about what he sees as the key issues in information management, the company's partnership with SAP and the plans to revamp TechWave this year.
Posted June 15, 2009
There comes a time at the start of a new engagement when the data architect must acquaint himself with the system for the first time. When first learning about a new application, the relevant data, and its foundational concepts, many questions are reviewed.
Posted June 15, 2009
Before we even begin this month's column I had better define what I mean by a "black box." Simply put, a black box is a database access program that sits in-between your application programs and the DBMS. It is designed so that all application programs call the black box for data instead of writing SQL statements that are embedded into a program. The general idea behind such a contraption is that it will simplify application development because programmers will not need to know how to write SQL. Instead, programmers call the black box to request data. SQL statements become calls-and every programmer knows how to code a call, right?
Posted June 15, 2009
DBSophic, a Jerusalem, Israel-developer and marketer of software products for automatic identification and resolution of performance problems related to database systems, has released version 1.2 of its flagship product Qure, a solution for SQL Server database performance optimization
Posted June 09, 2009
IBM announced 12 of 30 new System z software offerings, designed to help improve developer productivity, increase business intelligence and data management capabilities, and improve transaction speeds.
Posted June 08, 2009
Ntirety Inc. has expanded its remote database services beyond Oracle and SQL Server to include MySQL, the open source database. Ntirety has assembled a team of expert MySQL database administrators to provide its signature "Database Administration As a Service" to customers utilizing the open source platform.
Posted June 03, 2009
Oracle and HP have set a world record for Oracle Database 11g Standard Edition One running on Oracle Enterprise Linux. With this result, Oracle now holds the top five record benchmark positions in the Top Ten TPC-C price/performance category.
Posted June 03, 2009
Ntirety Inc. has expanded its remote database services beyond Oracle and SQL Server to include MySQL, the open source database. Ntirety has assembled a team of expert MySQL database administrators to provide its signature "Database Administration As a Service" to customers utilizing the open source platform.
Posted June 02, 2009
Appeon Corporation has announced the latest version of Appeon for PowerBuilder, a leading web-enablement solution for Sybase PowerBuilder. Appeon for PowerBuilder provides a fast and low cost approach to web-enabling PowerBuilder applications, and according to Appion, version 6.2 is the most powerful and flexible version to date, offering enhanced PowerBuilder support, an updated user interface, and expanded platform support.
Posted May 27, 2009
Sybase, Inc., has announced the latest version of Sybase Replication Server, specifically designed to move and synchronize data across the enterprise. Some of the key megatrends in the industry that helped to form the product strategy for Replication Server 15 include the pressures on organizations caused by burgeoning data volumes combined with customers' increasing requirements for real-time business analytics, Bill Zhang, product manager for Replication Server, Sybase, tells 5 Minute Briefing. Additionally, he adds, "we are seeing ongoing global adoption of business applications that drive very strong demand in terms of how to integrate data in heterogeneous environments."
Posted May 27, 2009
EnterpriseDB, an open source database vendor, announced that IBM has licensed its technology to make it easier to deploy applications on DB2 9.7, the upcoming release of IBM's enterprise relational database. The solution is intended to make it easier to migrate applications from Oracle environments into open source or DB2 environments. The technology is among a set of capabilities in EnterpriseDB's Postgres Plus Advanced Server. These capabilities enable customers to run applications written for Oracle Database.
Posted May 20, 2009
At its recent TechEd conference in Los Angeles, Microsoft announced new innovations from the SQL Server team. The next release, SQL Server 2008 R2 (formerly SQL Server ‘Kilimanjaro'), is intended to empower end users to make better decisions through self-service business intelligence, and help IT drive greater efficiency and reduce costs through new capabilities such as multi-server management and Master Data Services. The first Community Technology Preview (CTP) of SQL Server 2008 R2 will be available in the second half of 2009 and Microsoft is on track to ship SQL Server 2008 R2 in the first half of calendar year 2010. In 2010, Microsoft will also introduce complex event processing for real-time insight into streaming information. This will offers customers and partners faster time to solution and equal or better performance than competitive alternatives to gain insight from streaming information.
Posted May 19, 2009
5 Minute Briefing: Data Integration had a chance to visit the COLLABORATE 09 conference for Oracle users in Orlando during the week of May 4. We conducted interviews with both Ian Abramson, the president of the Independent Oracle Users Group (IOUG), and later with Raymond Payne, president of the Oracle Applications Users Group (OAUG).
Posted May 19, 2009
An inherent awkwardness exists in every many-to-many relationship between entities. Ambiguity causes this persistent awkwardness, primarily because a many-to-many relationship is such a fuzzy thing. In data discovery, encountering many-to-many relationships may actually expose a level of disregard about details by the subject matter experts.
Posted May 15, 2009
The economy is a wreck and things will likely get worse before they improve. Unemployment is even worse; almost 600,000 jobs were lost in January 2009, sending the unemployment rate to 7.6%, the highest it has been in 16 years. So many data professionals are out there looking for their next challenge … and more probably will be job hunting before the year is out.
Posted May 15, 2009
Sybase last week reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. Total revenue for the first quarter of 2009 increased to $267.5 million from $260.1 million in the first quarter of 2008. License revenue grew to $89.3 million compared to $78.1 million in the first quarter of 2008. Services revenue was $135.0 million, and messaging revenue was $43.3 million in the 2009 first quarter.
Posted April 28, 2009