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Originally published at Internet.comSybase IQ is a relational database that is specifically designed for data analytics usages; i.e., data warehousing, ad-hoc reporting, etc. The product is available for multiple platforms (Windows, Solaris, Linux, AIX) and features a column-based architecture and multiplex deployment support.
Sybase bills the product as having been designed from the ground up to specialize in read requests. Its column-based architecture along with specialized indexes enable it-according to the vendor-to deliver query responses 10 to 100 times faster than traditional transactional DBs; while its multiplexing capability (which allows the DB engine to run on multiple homogeneous nodes of a shared disk cluster to access a single image of the database) provide the product with its scalability from small to very large data warehouse deployments. Though the DB architecture is based on column-based storage, access to the DB is through standard SQL queries and operations.
The vendor notes that the DB can be loaded with data from flat files, directly from Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, or through Enterprise Connect from non-Adaptive Server Enterprise databases.
Other key features of the platform include:
- Support for data compression. Sybase states that the product can compress raw data by up to 70% of its original size; with typical DB deployments (including both data and indexes) requiring the same or less storage space as the raw (uncompressed) data itself.
- Support for table or column-level encryption
New to the product line is the introduction of Sybase IQ Extended Enterprise Edition, with embedded ETL capabilities including a Development Component that enables the visual creation of data transformation projects and provides the engine that controls the actual DB connections and procedure executions; and the Sybase ETL Server, which provides the GRID engine service facilitating parallel transformation processing across operating system boundaries and machines.
As of this writing, four flavors of Sybase IQ are available. The Extended Enterprise Edition (with ETL features, as noted above); the Enterprise Edition; the Developer's Kit (limited to 1 CPU/5 seats, with no Internet access); and the Single Application Server Edition. Pricing ranges from $995 (Developer's Kit) to $45,000 (Extended Enterprise version) per CPU. The Encrypted Column option described above is an additional $15,000 per CPU; and a High Availability & Large Objects Management Option is also available for an additional $20,000 per CPU.
Visit the Sybase Web site for further information.Author: DatabaseJournal Staff
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