IBM and Sun to Deliver Data Center Solutions
Database/Server Solution Designed To Meet Today’s Business Intelligence Needs
IT Forum, SAN FRANCISCO (April 29, 1998) – IBM and Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced expanded joint marketing and solution initiatives that strengthen their product lines and give customers powerful new ways to use business data and leverage the power of the Internet for competitive advantage.
Now,in addition to DB2* Universal Database, users of Sun’s servers and storage systems will have direct access to the full line of IBM data
management and business intelligence software, including DB2 OLAP Server and Intelligent Miner. IBM customers with existing investments in DB2 infrastructure will now have a broader set of platform choices on which to build scalable business intelligence solutions.
Under the initiative, IBM and Sun will expand their joint engineering team to optimize DB2 scalability on large Sun(TM) Enterprise(TM) server and Sun(TM) StorEdge(TM) platforms. IBM plans to provide DB2 features on the Solaris(TM) operating environment at the same time they are released on other platforms. As part of the initiative, IBM and Sun will agree to undertake joint marketing and sales activities.
A highlight of the initiative is DB2 Universal Database support for Sun’s Enterprise 10000 server (also known as the Starfire(TM) server). Sun’s Starfire system offers unique management features such as Dynamic System Domains, making the combination of DB2 and Starfire server ideal for supporting mission-critical applications.
“Aberdeen concludes that this initiative is backed by real world products and offers a win-win-win for IBM and Sun, as well as end users. IBM and Sun are providing customers with new, optimized solutions based on leading UNIX server and database products,” said Phil Sutherland, senior analyst, Aberdeen Group.
New Database Solution
In addition, Sun and IBM are working with Merisel and Infospace to offer customers a Web-based solution that optimizes database for business intelligence. Running on Sun’s Enterprise 450 workgroup server, the solution provides a scalable alternative to those based on PC servers running Microsoft Windows NT**. Unlike those offerings, this solution provides a seamless growth path to the data center without loss of
functionality or increased conversion costs. The solution provides easy access to DB2 Universal Database from a Web browser using SpaceSQL** access technology, a 100% Pure Java(TM) query/reporting and analysis server from Infospace Inc. Distribution of the solution will be handled throughout North America by the Merisel Open Computing Alliance (MOCA).
“Enterprises large and small want to leverage their existing environments and skill base when implementing new strategic applications,” said Janet Perna, general manager, data management, IBM Software Solutions. “The announcements that we’re making today underscore IBM’s commitment to deliver our data management software portfolio on platforms that are important to our customers. By working with Sun, we’re enabling their customers to implement business intelligence solutions using the world’s most advanced database and data mining technologies.”
One such IBM/Sun customer is Draper Laboratories, the world-famous applied research laboratory in Cambridge, Mass. Draper Labs uses DB2 Universal Database on Solaris to manage its extranet-based infoserver, an interactive application that allows Draper Labs to share engineering and project dataamong nine aerospace engineering corporations.
“One of Draper Lab’s key strategies is to leverage technology. We’re using DB2 Universal Database on the Sun Solaris platform to the fullest extent to support this strategy,” said Paul Aitkenhead, database architect for Draper Laboratories. “Not only are we giving users the ability to tap into one information pool, we’re also centralizing and leveraging our technicalresources.”
Source: IBM