hot skills In the SSL/CW list of top IT skills, Sybase is number 27
What is it?
Sybase is one of the big four relational database suppliers and was
once a serious competitor to Oracle at the top of the market.
Sybase is the fourth largest player in the market, with about 3% of
sales. Oracle and IBM (its sales swollen by the acquisition of
Informix) contest the top spot, each with about 33% of the market.
Microsoft is third with SQL Server.
Sybase was always more of a niche player than the others and was
strongest in the financial services sector. It provides business
continuity and unstoppable computing solutions and offers a
straight-through processing system for brokers and traders. Sybase
database administrators in the City are among the best remunerated
of database specialists.
Sybase now has other strings to its bow, with a comprehensive
middleware offering including the former New Era of Networks
enterprise application integration products. It has also acquired
the Powerbuilder development tool.
More recently, Sybase has emerged as the leading supplier of mobile
databases. Its iAnywhere product outsold Oracle's offering by a
factor of 10 and, according to Gartner, Sybase has captured three
quarters of this still small but potentially very important market.
Where did it originate?
Founded in 1984, Sybase was an early champion of client/server
architectures. Most of its application development tools and some
of its middleware products have come via acquisitions such as
Powersoft and Neon.
What is it for?
Application building and serving, database management and
datawarehousing, e-business infrastructure and mobile computing.
Sybase renamed its relational database the Adaptive Server
Enterprise and redesigned itfor e-business with the abilityto
handle Enterprise Java Bean components and an XQL query engine for
XML documents.
The Sybase Replication Server is able to mirror all or parts of the
enterprise database on other servers to provide business continuity
in the event of a system crash or planned downtime.
What makes it special?
A chance to get into the mobile data business before the market
really takes off. If you have a background in financial services,
you could try for that highly paid Sybase job in the City.
How difficult is it to master?
To undertake any Sybase training, you will need a basic
understanding of SQL and database concepts. Experienced database
professionals can take fast-track courses which promise to make you
productive with Adaptive Server in five days.
Where is it used?
Customers include Prudential, Unilever, Liverpool City Council and
the World Food Programme.
What systems does it run on?
Unix, Windows and Linux.
Do not confuse...
Adaptive Server with an ambidextrous tennis player.
What is coming up?
ASE 12.5.1, which includes new self-management, content management,
integration technologies and enhanced security and privacy
controls.
Not a lot of people know that...
SQL Server was jointly developed by Microsoft and Sybase.
Training
A list of Sybase training facilities and authorised training
partners with courses and dates can be obtained from
www.sybase.co.uk. Fees are high, at £2,000 for a five-day course or
£880 for two days. You will need to complete at least three courses
before you are eligible for Sybase professional certification,
which most employers now look for.
Rates of pay
The demand for Sybase in the City has pushed rates up, with
salaries for developers and application support starting at about
£35,000. Most jobs are in London and the South East and all will
ask for experience.