Oracle is to use Compaq's clustering technology in its 9i database
to help it create a more reliable and cost-effective platform,
writes Daniel Thomas
The two firms plan to integrate components of Compaq's Tru64
Unix cluster technology into Oracle's 9i Real Application Clusters,
used on the 9i database to create portable clusterware.
This will enable customers to monitor the status and performance
of the cluster remotely to check on load balancing and failover
status.
Michael Rocha, senior vice-president of Oracle's Platform
Technologies Division, said, "This partnership with Compaq will
help us ensure that businesses of all sizes can reap the benefits
of capacity on demand and efficiently respond to the fluctuating
workloads common in an e-business environment."
The 9i Real Application Clusters improve on Oracle's previous
clustering technology by allowing the addition of hardware without
software changes. The technology is designed to improve scalability
by sharing frequently accessed data across clustered computers.
Carl Olofson, programme director at analyst group IDC, said the
scalability of Real Application Clusters and the strong
system-level clustering of Trucluster would help overcome some of
the technical problems associated with clustered systems.
The 9i database is planned for release in the first half of the
year and Oracle hopes to incorporate Compaq's Trucluster software
with Real Application Clusters by the start of 2002.
Compaq is now a leader in clustering technology, following its
acquisition of Digital Equipment and Tandem Computing.