System iNetwork

March 2009

March 17, 2009 9:59 PM

IBM DB2 Storage Engine for MySQL in Public Beta, Nearing GA

MySQL has released the public beta of its long-awaited DB2 storage engine for MySQL, aptly named The DB2 for i (IBMDB2I) Storage Engine for MySQL on IBM i. MySQL is the popular open-source database for open-source apps, and the IBMDB2I storage engine will basically let applications write to MySQL but keep the data stored in DB2. This makes it easier for IBM i organizations to do backups and systems management through DB2--and it has the added benefit of letting the data in DB2 be easily shared with new or existing RPG applications.

MySQL takes the place of the "M" in the LAMP stack acronym (Linux, Apache Web server, MySQL, PHP), but MySQL says the popular stack can easily be configured as the iAMP stack by replacing Linux with IBM i. The IBMDB2I storage engine extends the integration, and it works with MySQL version 5.1 and requires IBM i 5.4 or 6.1.

There are a few IBM PTFs that need to be installed before the beta can be used; for details, check out IBM's Authorized Problem Analysis Report (APAR) II14442.

For more information or to download the beta, go to http://solutions.mysql.com/engines/ibm_db2_storage_engine.html.

The official shipping version should GA on or near the end of March.

--Chris Maxcer, Database/SQL editor

Posted by cmaxcer on March 17, 2009 at 9:59 PM | Comments (0)

March 3, 2009 8:42 PM

Vision Solutions Releases PowerPack Offerings for IBM Power Systems

Disaster recovery and high availability solution provider Vision Solutions has launched Vision PowerPacks, new bundles that combine Vision Solutions software with IBM technologies to provide turnkey solutions for customers running IBM Power Systems.

"These unique offerings extend IBM's latest Power Systems offerings with Vision's leading solutions to protect critical systems for mid-market to large companies," notes Edward Vesely, Vision Solutions' senior vice president of marketing.

By combining complementary hardware and software technologies, Vision says its new PowerPacks let customers more easily acquire turnkey High Availability, Disaster Recovery and Migration solutions. They include:

• Vision PowerPack for IBM i Resilience
  (keeps systems protected and available)
• Vision PowerPack for POWER Migration
  (designed to eliminate downtime traditionally associated with system upgrades and migrations)
• Vision PowerPack for AIX Resilience
  (for cost-effective disaster recovery solutions with true Continuous Data Protection (CDP) that keeps systems available)
• Vision PowerPack for AIX Resilience—PowerHA User Edition
  (complements the high availability protection provided by PowerHA for AIX (HACMP) and lets customers quickly add a disaster recovery solution with CDP)

Vision Solutions also has PowerPacks for Systems Management, Cluster Management, and SAP.

"Many of our flagship customers have worked closely with Vision and IBM to bring integrated solutions to market," notes Stephanie Carmel, IBM's vice president of ISV Solutions for the IBM Systems & Technology Group.

If you're interested in learning more, Vision has an upcoming webcast set for March 24, "Business Resiliency for a Smarter Planet," that includes information about the new Vision PowerPacks.

--Chris Maxcer, news editor

Posted by cmaxcer on March 3, 2009 at 8:42 PM | Comments (0)