Big Blue Unwraps New DB2

Big Blue's DB2 version 8 features new self-managing and automation capabilities designed to simplify database management. In line with IBM's software strategy, the new database software also offers increased support for open standards and Federated Web Services, along with Microsoft .Net and Windows, Linux, Unix and Java.

"This is the most significant version of DB2 in the last decade," says Jeff Jones, director of strategy for IBM's Data Management division.

The beta release of DB2 version 8 includes advanced autonomic computing capabilities, including self-managing and self-tuning features designed to reduce the time and costs associated with managing database systems. Version 8 also features a "Health Center" capability that sends automatic updates via e-mail, pagers or PDAs for database administrators on system performance reports. IBM officials say this will help DBAs manage five times the number of systems that they could before.

DB2 version 8 also features the new Configuration Advisor tool, which reduces time to configure database systems and eliminates the need for frequent manual tuning of performance-related parameters by automatically setting parameters. Jones says the Configuration Advisor can help VARs set database parameters within minutes instead of several days.

"There's a huge focus on self-management and automation in this release," he says. "With database software, you don't want to see the DBA requirements go up. In DB2's case, we're happy to say they're going down."

IBM also increased DB2's support for XML in version 8. Now the database software automates the transformations that programmers typically are required to write, enabling XML documents to be viewed on a Web browser. In addition, XML document storage and retrieval forms are now provided as a combination of SQL language and DB2 XML Extender enhancements. IBM also added a Developer Center to DB2 that makes it easier for developers to build and deploy applications for either Java or Microsoft. In addition, DB2 also supports the 64-bit environments for Linux and Windows.

IBM has made major strides with DB2 in the database software market over the last two years, such as purchasing database vendor Informix and putting a stronger emphasis on DB2 in the channel. Some research firms still have Oracle with the database market share lead, but two months ago Gartner Dataquest reported that IBM led all vendors for total new database sales in 2001.

The beta version of DB2 v8 will be available to customers starting July 23, 2002 and can be downloaded at the IBM Web site.