|
Database management moves into the Grid
Database management software (DBMS) has been the backbone of enterprise computing
for the past many years. The market is growing bigger in terms of size, and
will continue to gain prominence in 2004. With the consolidation, standardisation
and centralisation of IT systems underway in most organisations, the demand
for highly scalable and reliable database systems is on the rise.
According to reliable industry estimates, the Indian database market is currently
at about $100 million, and the top three players put together have a market
share of more than 70 percent. IDC expects the information and data management
software segment to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17 percent
till 2006. “There will be independent solutions like business intelligence
that are largely going to drive the use and adoption of databases,” says
Tarun Malik, product marketing manager, Microsoft India. The importance of having
a database and data warehouses for various specific applications will also be
a factor of growth to drive the market. Early adapters of sophisticated database
management and business intelligence tools would be large computing verticals
like the government, the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector,
telecom, IT services, manufacturing and the retail sector.
Current status
Databases are very sophisticated software products. Looking beyond branded products
is not an option. Databases are the foundation of a lot of business applications,
both branded and custom-developed. “The database market will grow along
with the growing IT infrastructure in organisations. Adopting Grid computing
with databases helps organisations reduce the cost of IT by running it on low-cost
commodity hardware,” says Gaurav Varma, marketing manager, Oracle India.
Four or five years ago DBMS was just like a data store, with medium and large
companies only looking at it as a tool for storing data. Then around three years
ago it really moved into what is called the relational database space. This
is where the concept of applications on databases came into the picture. In
terms of users there has been a shift from meagre database administrators to
developers to data warehouse managers and also towards business intelligence
usage that involves a whole lot of people and not just CIOs. This means users
have also evolved with the evolution of the product, its usage and market. Till
the time it was a data store, database administrators could have managed it.
But when it became a data warehouse, CIOs and skilled technical experts got
involved. That is why DBMS is now an integral and crucial part of the overall
IT policy of large enterprises. The importance of DBMS has come to fore especially
after the adoption of ERP and CRM solutions. If you look at the top of the pyramid,
for the top few IT spenders, DBMS has become as important as network infrastructure.
“As a matter of fact, that is why it is also driving the platform strategy
of vendors,” says Malik. However, the trend is still evolving in the SME
space.
“There is a gradual shift from the practice of building local, in-house
customised applications on incumbent databases. However, these deployments have
typically been on branded and well-recognised databases and not on customised
databases from lesser-known vendors,” says R Dhamodaran, vice president
and country executive, Software Group & Developer Relations, IBM India.
Agrees Malik, “Customers are definitely adopting and embracing branded
products from leading vendors, and are going in for a solutions-based approach.”
One can now see a very strong momentum in the marketplace. As data continues
to grow exponentially, one witnesses the type of information changing from record-oriented
to content-oriented data. Databases have become content or information repositories.
Handling that and supporting applications is not only transaction-oriented but
analysis-oriented. Mixed content is going to be a way in which databases differentiate
themselves. There is the trend to push more analytics into the database, with
abilities like data mining in real-time to support new applications. XML will
be important as users now store and build content repositories to represent
that kind of content. In terms of topology of database performance, the ability
to get performance, scalability and high availability in different environments
is also gaining importance.
Another clear trend in the database space is towards building infrastructure
that is robust, secure and low-cost. That is why almost all vendors are looking
at offering unlimited scalability and reliability on low-cost computers. “We
are spreading the message of low-cost, industry-standard computers to the market;
this can save costs and provide a higher level of quality of service,”
says Verma. Today, all solutions require databases—whether they are enterprise
project management solutions, balance scorecards, business intelligence solutions,
application integration or banking solutions—which is why databases are
going to drive the platform strategy of companies.
DBMS vendors have also started singing the tune of small and medium enterprises
(SMEs). Like other IT products there is a lot of scope for DBMS vendors in the
SME segment. Although a large chunk of DBMS business now comes from large enterprises,
experts say the SME space has started showing its potential. “The SME market
has suddenly opened up for databases for storage purposes; they are also looking
at a lot of solutions and branded products,” says Malik. That is why vendors
like Oracle, IBM and Microsoft who are promoting 9i (also 9i 10G enabled), DB2
and SQL respectively, have either announced specific products for SMEs or have
brought down prices with a lot of customisation for SMEs.
Drivers
Apart from the increasing adoption of databases in different verticals, the
return on investment (RoI) and functionality of databases are also fuelling
the growth of DBMS in the country. Consumers, especially after the dot-com debacle,
have started looking at spending less and deriving more RoI from new technology,
products and software. Any vendor who relates his offering to RoI would be a
successful vendor. In the database space, the biggest RoI is going to come from
deploying a solution that can be customised to solve problems generated by the
business environment. Another very important parameter will be the functionality
of the database product. Consumers today are looking at more advanced functionality
and more scalability. Keeping this in mind, vendors are punching in more functionality
into their database products without increasing cost. For instance, Microsoft
just released Reporting Services in SQL Server 2000 at no additional cost. Last
year too the company introduced a 64-bit version of SQL Server at no additional
cost. These moves by Microsoft clearly show that it is product functionality
that is going to bring a clear RoI. The Reporting Service available free with
MS SQL Server has opened the floodgates for Microsoft as the company now stands
ahead of companies that sell DBMS and reporting tools.
Oracle has also initiated a similar drive. The company has evolved product strategies
keeping RoI and functionalities in mind. It has the ability to deliver all elements
of the information architecture: on one hand, development tools, databases and
application servers, and on the other hand, a comprehensive suite of applications
in the Oracle E-Business Suite. It puts Oracle in a position to serve customers
looking at either of the models. Moreover, since they are based on open standards,
customers can adopt a hybrid model that has a mix of legacy and customised applications,
and offers a stepping-stone for organisations to move into an infrastructure
with a common data model. Oracle 10G enablement of its 9i database products
and offerings in the Grid computing segment are unique by themselves. Oracle
has also got a scaled-down version of its product targeted at the SME segment.
Issues
In this challenging economic environment, customers are demanding lower total
cost of ownership (TCO) and self-managing features. Almost all vendors have
now started addressing these issues with some path-breaking products. For instance,
in IBM’s most recent update to DB2, the company has built hundreds of autonomic
tools into the databases. Apart from this, customers also want to maximise the
investments they have made, and they do not want to spend much of their time
and money migrating information to one giant repository. They also want to retrieve
information easily from databases in real-time. In addition, customers are dealing
with information in all forms, including multimedia, so it is important for
them to have a flexible database at the heart of a framework for managing a
variety of content. Vendors should formulate their product strategies keeping
these aspects in mind.
As far as SMEs are concerned, the market is the most evolving one, but consumers
here are purely driven by price. It is real challenge for vendors to communicate
to a consumer the kind of value-addition a particular solution will bring. Creation
of this awareness among SMEs will be the toughest task for vendors. That communication
is going to decide which vendor and what product the SME will embrace.
Open Source
No one has so far dumped a clustered Oracle 9i database and replaced it with
a free, open source database downloaded from the Web and running on a bunch
of Intel-based Linux/free OS servers. But a growing number of users are pioneering
these freely available databases. These users say that open source databases
are reaching a stage where they can become the latest addition to their inventory
of open source tools, including the Linux operating system, the Apache Web server
and the Tomcat Java servlet engine.
According to these users, the main attractions of an open source database are:
- Very fast performance, especially in read-only applications.
- No or nominal licensing costs.
- Low administrative and operational costs.
As to the back-end servers, users are still ingrained with Oracle or DB2, which
has a fair amount of support for Linux.
It is a typical pattern in companies that are experimenting with open source
databases. High-volume database updates, which are the essence of transaction-processing
applications, remain anchored on products such as Oracle’s 9i and IBM’s
DB2 Universal Database, and increasingly Microsoft’s SQL Server. But there
are a host of new application areas that don’t require the complex and
equally expensive features of conventional databases.
MySQL open source database from MySQL has spread from being used by a few groups
to the core infrastructure of the Internet portal. MySQL is a core piece of
the content-generation system for many large users. Open source databases are
typically available for free or for a nominal charge and include the complete
source code. Finally, in accordance with the terms of the GNU General Public
License (GPL), users typically have the freedom to change any part of the source
code and use it without charge as long as they publish the change. Once published,
the change can be used by anyone.
An alternative arrangement is the Berkeley Software Development licence which
is used by PostgreSQL.org. Developers can use, copy, modify, and distribute
this software free of cost.
There is an array of open source databases. Firebird, based on Borland’s
venerable InterBase database is one of the few that have the support and blessings
of vendors and the well-organised community of coders.
MySQL is also proving to be popular among open source communities. Every time
a new programming language comes out, the first thing that developers usually
do is add database connectivity to MySQL. PostgreSQL is the most matured of
the open databases, and PostgreSQL.org maintains an extensive Web presence for
its developer community. It is a Canadian company that offers applications along
with support services. Red Hat bases its product offerings on PostgreSQL.
The open databases are often storehouses of innovation. MySQL has an architecture
that has a core relational manager that can be used by different kinds of plug-in
data handlers. These open databases tend to be far simpler than their conventional
counterparts in all these areas. They also have low operational overheads.
A common criticism of open source databases is that they don’t support
transactions or don’t do as well as commercial products. For example, MySQL
has a fast database for content store, but it is still immature in terms of
transaction processing at the back-end.
However, immaturity in some areas of an open database might not be a problem
if the software has what you need in other areas, or has a credible track record
of delivering new features on a regular basis.
Conclusion
The database segment will continue to grow as businesses rely more and more
on information as a source of competitive advantage. However, the market has
definitely evolved over the years though it has not yet reached high maturity
levels. As the SME segment has started adopting the technology, experts opine
that there is going to be huge momentum in the market. The Indian SME market
is no longer just a PC market; rather, it has become a well-networked and well-connected
segment, which is why it has also started using servers. On the enterprise side
one will witness a lot of momentum coming around solutions like application
integration, business intelligence and reporting services. It is expected that
three factors are going to drive the Indian DBMS market in this fiscal: solutions,
RoI and functionality. With vendors focusing on these aspects, one expects the
market to experience good growth this fiscal.
gaurav@expresscomputeronline.com
|
Oracle India
Oracle feels that by adopting Grid computing (the recently announced
10G enablement) with databases like Oracle 9i, organisations can reduce
the cost of IT by running it on low-cost commodity hardware. Oracle has
the ability in terms of delivering all elements of the information architecture.
On one hand are the development tools and database and application servers,
and on other hand are the comprehensive suite of applications in the Oracle
E-Business Suite. This puts Oracle in a position to serve customers looking
at either of the models. Moreover, being based on open standards, customers
can adopt a hybrid model, which has a mix of legacy and customised applications,
and offers a stepping-stone for organisations to move into an infrastructure
with a common data model.
In terms of technology, Oracle’s focus is all on the components of
the Oracle 10g infrastructure software. Oracle Database and Oracle Application
Server provide a powerful deployment platform for enterprise applications,
starting from companies with turnover of Rs 10 crore to the largest corporates
and the government. It has immense applicability in BFSI, manufacturing,
telecom, and the government sector. It has also one of the most secure
database technologies. Currently, a number of state governments are implementing
Oracle-based solutions. Oracle has already launched the next release of
its infrastructure software: Oracle 10g. Oracle 10g is the infrastructure
software for Grid computing, which lets the user combine the power of
multiple low-cost computers to work as a single powerful and reliable
computer.
Apart from enabling Grid computing, Oracle Database 10g includes new self-management
and tuning capabilities that empower a DBA to focus on higher value-added
jobs rather than the day to day management of a database. It allows database
administrators to work with the consumers of technology to determine service
level agreements and use policy-based database management capability to
manage the system. With the release of Oracle 10g
Infrastructure software, Oracle hopes to further increase its market share
in India.
|
|
Microsoft
Microsoft is very aggressively growing its base for SQL Server 2000.
It promises to meet the demands of customers’ data management systems.
The company has also gained strength with the promise of ease of manageability
and better RoI. Again, as a corporation, the kind of support Microsoft
offers to its consumers is unmatched. It involves its customers in the
development of its new products. For example, development of the next
version of SQL Server 2000 called ‘Yukon’ has involved not only
Microsoft partners but also prime customers worldwide. The kind of investment
that Microsoft puts into R&D is huge.
In the days to come, Microsoft will be focusing more on business value
to consumers. The consumer understands the business value of a solution,
be it Business Intelligence or application integration. To increase its
focus on the mid-tier and the SME market, the company is also going to
enhance its channels. Microsoft is also looking at evolving its product
with its new version coming up by the end of this calendar year.
Bettering RoI is at the top of Microsoft’s agenda. It believes that
the biggest RoI is going to come through the deployment of the solution,
which is going to help drive the customer’s business. Microsoft,
all across its server lines, is known for ease of use and manageability.
The company recently released Reporting Services in
SQL Server 2000 and that too at no additional cost. Last year it had introduced
a 64-bit version of SQL Server at no additional cost. The kind of rich
product functionalities that the company is bringing in will clearly help
users in realising better RoI. Microsoft will continue to focus on segments
like government, BFSI, telecom, IT services, manufacturing and retail.
|
|
IBM
IBM’s data management business is continuously increasing its market
share, fueled by a successful partnering strategy. Nearly half of IBM’s
growth in the database business is attributed to partnering with industry-leading
enterprise application providers. IBM shares market opportunities with
application providers who lead with IBM products as their primary offering.
Revenues from the company’s middleware brands, which include WebSphere,
DB2, Rational, Tivoli and Lotus products, are also increasing. Over and
above all this, the acquisition of Informix has also strengthened IBM’s
position in the database space.
IBM is focusing on low cost of ownership and self-managing features. In
its most recent update to DB2, it built in hundreds of autonomic tools
into the database and for easy retrieval of information from IBM and non-IBM
databases in real-time the company has incorporated DB2 Information Integrator
into the product. IBM is also building an operating environment that enables
the seamless flow of transactions and information as well as the autonomic
management of the environment. With on-demand computing, IBM will enable
an information infrastructure that integrates all forms of information,
regardless of where it resides on the Grid—that is what the company’s
Grid computing abilities are about. The company’s game plan is to
focus on customers while working with its partners. IBM focuses on delivering
innovative technology at a great total cost of ownership and continues
to forge strategic partnerships. Nearly half of IBM’s growth in the
database business is attributed to partnering with industry-leading enterprise
application providers. ISVs are also choosing DB2 because of its scalability
and commitment to open standards.
|
|
IBM
IBM’s data management business is continuously increasing its market
share, fueled by a successful partnering strategy. Nearly half of IBM’s
growth in the database business is attributed to partnering with industry-leading
enterprise application providers. IBM shares market opportunities with
application providers who lead with IBM products as their primary offering.
Revenues from the company’s middleware brands, which include WebSphere,
DB2, Rational, Tivoli and Lotus products, are also increasing. Over and
above all this, the acquisition of Informix has also strengthened IBM’s
position in the database space.
IBM is focusing on low cost of ownership and self-managing features. In
its most recent update to DB2, it built in hundreds of autonomic tools
into the database and for easy retrieval of information from IBM and non-IBM
databases in real-time the company has incorporated DB2 Information Integrator
into the product. IBM is also building an operating environment that enables
the seamless flow of transactions and information as well as the autonomic
management of the environment. With on-demand computing, IBM will enable
an information infrastructure that integrates all forms of information,
regardless of where it resides on the Grid—that is what the company’s
Grid computing abilities are about. The company’s game plan is to
focus on customers while working with its partners. IBM focuses on delivering
innovative technology at a great total cost of ownership and continues
to forge strategic partnerships. Nearly half of IBM’s growth in the
database business is attributed to partnering with industry-leading enterprise
application providers. ISVs are also choosing DB2 because of its scalability
and commitment to open standards.
|
|
IBM has recently announced two initiatives that ultimately could make
it easier to integrate business and IT events across multiple platforms,
to automate workflows and to provision resources.
IBM’s enterprise management software arm, Tivoli, will help Big Blue
better integrate and co-relate events from business, application and IT
systems on one console.
The company unveiled plans to develop a Common Event Infrastructure (CEI)
across its WebSphere, Tivoli and DB2 brands, to start. About 34 partners
have signed on to work with IBM standards and CEI developer kits (due
out in a couple of months) to better integrate data from their products
into Tivoli and other IBM offerings.
|
|
IBM has recently announced two initiatives that ultimately could make
it easier to integrate business and IT events across multiple platforms,
to automate workflows and to provision resources.
IBM’s enterprise management software arm, Tivoli, will help Big Blue
better integrate and co-relate events from business, application and IT
systems on one console.
The company unveiled plans to develop a Common Event Infrastructure (CEI)
across its WebSphere, Tivoli and DB2 brands, to start. About 34 partners
have signed on to work with IBM standards and CEI developer kits (due
out in a couple of months) to better integrate data from their products
into Tivoli and other IBM offerings.
|
| Oracle late last year announced its plan to add Grid
capabilities to a new version of its application server software, part of
a broader effort to revamp its entire product line around the ‘utility’
computing model. Oracle will be shipping this product called Application
Server 10g now.
Oracle also has plans to introduce ‘Enterprise Manager to Go’,
a remote management tool that alerts database administrators to problems
with Oracle’s database when they’re out on the road. ‘EM
to Go’ is an extension of Enterprise Manager, Oracle’s suite of
database management tools. It runs on a PDA with wireless capabilities,
such as HP’s iPaq and provides a database administrator (DBA) with
alerts when a problem arises with their database. |
| Microsoft has added reporting capabilities to its SQL
Server 2000 database, rounding out its business intelligence platform with
a feature long sought by some of its customers.
SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services allows users to program their databases
to generate reports, such as a breakdown of sales by region, and then helps
manage and distribute those reports. It can pull data from multiple sources,
including databases from Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, as well as line-of-business
applications from SAP AG and others. The reports can be generated in HTML
for presentation on the Web, in a document format such as Adobe Systems’
PDF, or in a data format such as XML. Reports can also be exported directly
to Excel thanks to a close linkage with Microsoft Office. |
| Years spent on the acquisition trail have netted CA a
broad assortment of data-management technologies, which it is now beginning
to integrate with a new version of its core CleverPath portal software.
With its expanded CleverPath suite announced recently, users can more easily
aggregate data sources—everything from financial and customer data
repositories to e-mail and text documents—and mine useful information
from the pile.
The revamped suite offers support for content management, collaboration,
online analytical processing and business reporting, and rules-based automation.
While CA might be ahead of the game, the company faces competition on several
fronts. Among those working on bundled information management suites are
business intelligence vendors such as Business Objects, Cognos and Informatica.
Infrastructure software vendors, such as IBM and Microsoft, have data integration
expertise and huge installed bases. Enterprise application vendors, such
as PeopleSoft and SAP who got into the market by first integrating data
from their own diverse applications are also a threat. All in all, an interesting
area and company to watch. |
| In a move to provide customers with greater choice, SAP
has started offering its business applications for small companies on Sybase’s
database platform, in addition to Microsoft’s SQL Server database.
Under the agreement, SAP and Sybase will integrate SAP’s ‘Business
One’ product suite for small and mid-size businesses (SMEs) into Sybase’s
Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) database system.
Previously, SAP’s Business One application was available on Microsoft’s
SQL Server database only. SAP will market its combined offering with Sybase
through its partner distribution channels. Both SAP and Sybase will dedicate
marketing, alliance and training resources to the partnership. In addition,
SAP and Sybase plan to develop and market Sybase mobile solutions for Business
One customers. |
|
