EnterpriseDB Offers Database For HP's Itanium-Based Servers

EnterpriseDB is shipping a new release of its open source database the company offers as an alternative to Oracle's database software.

The company's Postgres Plus Advanced Server 9.0, based on the PostgreSQL open-source database, offers a range of enhancements developed by the company and by the PostgreSQL community, said Robin Schumacher, director of products and strategy, in an interview.

Topping the list is new support for Hewlett-Packard's HP-UX operating system, including support for HP-UX running on Itanium-based HP Integrity servers. Oracle recently said that it has halted developing its software for HP's Itanium-based servers, a move that has angered HP and widened a growing rift between the two vendors.

"If [customers] want to continue to use their HP hardware, we've got a good answer for them," Schumacher said.

"Our clients are looking for robust database alternatives that allow them to avoid vendor lock-in,’ said Lorraine Bartlett, vice president, worldwide marketing and strategy, Business Critical Systems, at HP, in a statement. "EnterpriseDB offers an open source solution for HP-UX that is compatible with the Oracle database. Postgres Plus Advanced Server 9.0 for HP-UX provides clients with a multi-vendor alternative for their environment today and a straightforward transition strategy should they need it.’

EnterpriseDB has drawn more attention recently after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems last year and the popular MySQL open-source database it owned. EnterpriseDB "is really the only independent open-source database out there," Schumacher said.

Postgres Plus Advanced Server 9.0 offers improved compatibility with Oracle's database and related software, including support for Oracle Pro*C applications, and Enterprise DB said that decreases the amount of manual effort needed to move from Oracle to its database.

Postgre Plus Advanced Server already provides the ability to replicate data from Oracle databases. The new 9.0 version offers the same replication capabilities from Microsoft's SQL Server database.

The new database now has parallel data loading technology, which the company said could load data up to 800 percent faster that earlier releases. Also added are new high-availability features developed by the Postgres community, including built-in replications and hot standby capabilities that EnterpriseDB said mirror those of Oracle's Dataguard software.

Postgres Plus Advanced Server 9.0 is available now priced starting at $3,995.