IBM adds data warehouse capabilities to Informix 19 March, 2009 By Steve Wexler

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IBM has had quite a few customers using Informix as a data warehouse but until now they've had to take on quite a lot of the tool development and integration work themselves, he said. "The tools that we're providing will allow them to manage and model their data much more easily than before." It's also about doing things smarter, more intelligently, so that operations are done in near real-time. Plus as an added bonus, customers can now also work with Cognos tools, said Brown.

The product is an integrated warehouse tool that: enables IDS with tools to transform operational data; builds, deploys, operates, and maintains a data warehouse; and delivers the managed information assets globally. It includes the SQL Warehouse (SQW) component, which offers: SQW Warehouse Design Studio and SQW Client for data modeling, schema design, data transformation design, and data flow design; SQW Warehouse Server with Administration Console to schedule and manage data flows; and SQL Warehouse runtime to perform data transformation within the IDS data server.

In addition to supporting Cognos tools, the enhancement works with other external integrated tools, such as IBM Optim to manage data growth, and IBM InfoSphere DataStage and QualityStage to transform and cleanse data.

IBM started customer beta trials in the October/November timeframe, said Jerry Keesee, director, Informix Database Development, IBM. The early validation program also involved partners. "We have been able to use their feedback to make some changes."

With the current economy, the timing couldn't be better, he added.

"This year, probably more than any other given the economic situation, it's very important to be smart about the way you manage your data. You have to make the most of what you have." Two other keys to ongoing improvements IBM has been making over the past few years is availability -- "a nearly never-down solution" -- and the fact that Informix requires less resources than competitors' products, said Keesee.

The target audience is primarily its installed base. "They like what they're able to do," he said. "We're now providing them with an alternative for warehousing that won't break the bank and I think that will make a big impact in our customer base." He added that IBM's channel has also been asking for this capability. "Our partners have been telling us for a long time that they see this as a major growth opportunity, and within the installed base this would be addressing a lot of our customer needs by taking this step."