IBM claim customer trials are going extremely well, and it could not be more pleased with DB2 8.0 for zSeries, which is described as, the most significant new version of DB2 that we have ever shipped. Though it will only actually reach general availability probably in the first half of 2004.
IBM claims a list of 100-plus improvements to the database, including 64-bit support for increased performance and scalability of applications, and enhanced SQL support.
The company re-designed the code around 64-bit support, to make the most of the updated T-Rex eServers which will themselves offer up to 64-way symmetric multiprocessing, quadrupling the current maximum processor count in a single system.
While the code base for DB2 for the zSeries is not the same as other versions of the DB2 Universal Database, developers can use the same development tools to write applications to both versions.
But the key to DB2 8.0 for zSeries will be its performance, scalability and reliability.
IBM is positioning itself to try and take database business from Oracle Corp [ORCL] with its 64-bit version of DB2 for mainframes. Other enhancements include support for recursive SQL, common table expressions, scalar full select and column level encryption to ease porting to DB2 from competing databases running on Unix or PC-based servers.
Oracle, the number-one RDBMS vendor, saw its lead eroded with 5% negative growth to 39.4% in 2002. IBM, meanwhile, enjoyed 9% growth as the number-two vendor to take 33.6% of the market.
This article was based on material originally published by ComputerWire.
