IBM DB2 "Viper 2" Data Server Prepares to Strike

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced open customer and business partner beta testing of an enhanced version of the DB2 9 “Viper” data server. The upgrade -- code named Viper 2 -- will build upon the success of DB2 9 by further enhancing the product’s industry-leading security and workload management features.

DB2 9 Viper is IBM’s fastest-growing and most successful data server product in more than two decades. Less than a year after its introduction, DB2 9 has ushered in a new era in data management by seamlessly and simultaneously managing both XML and relational data, regardless of format, platform or location.

“The ability of DB2 9 with pureXML allows us to quickly manage patient medical records, patient diagnostic images and even handwritten doctors’ notes into our Patient Oriented document System, in turn giving us the information we need to offer the highest-quality patient care,” said Dr. Charles Wang, Architect Manager, UCLA Medical Center Computing Services. “Since we’ve been using DB2 9 for our migration test from the existing way of handling XML metadata, we’ve seen the potential of cutting down this process from weeks to hours.”

During the first half of 2007, DB2 Viper has consistently generated new data server customer wins and competitive win-backs for IBM. Hundreds of customers around the world, in various industries, have already moved their databases from Oracle to DB2 9. Included among these DB2 9 Viper wins are the City of Los Angeles, American Electric Power, Central Michigan University, Farmers Insurance, the Catholic Medical Center and Teleglobe.

“DB2 9’s Viper technology marked a generational leap ahead of our competitors in the database software industry and has helped to drive record growth for IBM’s Information Management software business in 2007,” said Bernie Spang, director IBM data servers. “The enhanced security and workload management features of Viper 2 will extend the technological lead that DB2 has on the competition.”

DB2 9 has single-handedly transformed traditional, static database technology into an self managing, vibrant data server that enables customers to more efficiently manage a variety of business information, such as documents, Web pages and digitally signed XML transactions.

“As the creator of XMLSpy -- the industry-standard XML development environment -- Altova recognizes IBM DB2 9 as the preferred data server for XML applications,” said Alexander Falk, president and CEO of Altova. “DB2 9 is changing the way companies manage their XML and relational data, and Viper 2 will further expand IBM’s technological leadership in the data server market. Together, Viper 2 and Altova’s XML and data management tools will provide the most capable solution yet for anyone needing to access, utilize, or store XML content.”

DB2 Viper 2 is expected to further fuel IBM’s data server business momentum by helping customers continue to improve their ability to manage and extract value from their business information, particularly XML data.

Customers, developers and partners can register for Viper 2 open beta program and learn more about the upgraded capabilities of DB2 at www.ibm.com/db2/xml.

IBM’s extensive, open data server beta and partner program is unmatched in the industry and allows IBM to deliver a fully tested, production-ready data server to customers.

For more information about IBM Information Management, visit www.software.ibm.com/data.