In article <[log in to unmask]>, Mark Wonsil
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Speaking of IBM and databases, what are the collective opinion of IBM's
>Xperanto database effort?  Should DBMSs be centralized like Oracle or should
>they be an interface to varied types of datastores like Xperanto?  I lean
>toward the latter FWIW.
>
>More info at:
>http://news.com.com/2100-1001-980196.html
>

IMO the federated data approach (IBM's Xperanto) will be a clear winner
over the centralized approach of Oracle and others. Superficially, data
federation has many benefits including the following -
Access to data sources, both relational and non-relational, without
needing to make copies of the data.
Make any data source look like a DB2 table.
Unified interface transparently making all data sources appear as a
single DB.
Single sign-on security
Compensation for missing functions in the federated data sources' DBMS.
Query optimisation based on data source capabilities.

I believe that DB2 version 8 already supports federation of data sources
which include Oracle, Sybase, Informix, SQLServer, as well as a range of
non-relational sources.

Some interesting bench marks that I heard mentioned included a DB2
installation which provided federated access to an Oracle DB.
A performance (speed) improvement of between 1% and 50% for a range of
queries on the Oracle data was claimed for the DB2 federated approach.

Bench marks not-with-standing, it seems to me that the federated
approach provides an excellent technology for integrating legacy data
sources into new designs and platforms without the need to be concerned
about wholesale migration of the legacy data, whilst at the same time
helping to reduce overall development and support costs.

In our experience DB2 is an excellent DBMS particularly now that all
versions are supported on Linux as well as NT/2000. It just seems to get
better and better.
--
Chris Thompson
The Internet Agency, UK
http://www.the-internet-agency.com
European Distributors for Advanced Networks Systems Inc.
Distributors of CCS TRAX and CCS C-iX 'C' compiler for MPE
MPE and RTE migration tools and services
IBM Development Partner
Email   [log in to unmask]

ANSI -
Advanced Network Systems Inc., USA
Suppliers of ADBC, VPLUS+, ANSI Studio, Web/iX
Specialists in JAVA and J2EE migration and implementation
IBM Business Partner
http://www.advnetsys.com
Email   [log in to unmask]

-----------------------------------------

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *