IBM has announced what it describes as the most significant
upgrade to the Informix database server solution since it bought
the platform six years ago.
Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) version 10 is designed to provide
increased performance, reliability and scalability, while helping
customers lower total cost of ownership, said IBM.
IDS v10 features new automated capabilities that ease deployment
and administration, as well as security enhancements such as data
encryption that help clients to comply with new regulations such as
Sarbanes-Oxley, Basel 2 and HIPAA, IBM said.
Additionally, IDS v10 comes with more flexible licensing options
than previous versions. The database server includes a Java-based
installation feature designed to cut installation time in half, and
its smaller footprint makes it easier to embed into
applications.
The system's Enterprise Replication (ER) also now supports
templates to simplify deploying ER. And back-up and restore
utilities have been enhanced to provide more flexibility, faster
set-up of secondary servers and better log management facilities,
said IBM.
IDS is a leading embedded database in market segments such as
retail, telecommunications, healthcare, and government.
In North America, eight of the top 10 retailers and 20 of the top
25 supermarkets are Informix customers, illustrating why IBM is
committed to developing the platform.
IBM also plans a cheaper IDS v10 Express edition, which will be
available in the second quarter of 2005.