'Stinger' Beta Improves DB2 Database Management

IBM is fleshing out its autonomic computing strategy in the realm of database management. The company has announced Stinger, a beta release of IBM's DB2 Universal Database, which boasts over 200 new features and tackles the tasks of simplifying database administration.

The new autonomic features ramp up the ability of customers to automatically deploy, configure and maintain DB2. With Stinger, IBM is claiming that complex jobs can be completed up to 6.5 times faster than if performed manually; freeing up resources to focus on data analysis, Web Services, integration, information lifecycle management, and other business processes.

Other significant improvements are Stinger's support for "location" and "time-and-space" three-dimensional geospatial data, and extended support for Linux clustering. IBM boasts that DB2 will automatically partition and optimize databases spread across multiple servers "in minutes" for customers running Linux operating systems.

Aside from regular product enhancements, IBM wants Microsoft to feel the sting. Stinger allows .NET developers to use either Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET programming tool or Rational XDE Developer to design databases and database applications. As a result, developers can write stored procedures with .NET programming languages.

Rival database Oracle already offers support for the .NET programming environment.

Stinger's jab at Microsoft follows IBM's acquisition of Rational Software, a maker of j2EE and .NET programming tools. Although Microsoft and IBM are cooperating on some establishing Web Service standards, IBM has positioned Stinger to arrive well ahead of Microsoft's next generation "Yukon" database.

The final version of Stinger will become available later this year with support for Power PC, AMD and Intel architectures.