DataDirect Technologies Extends Mainframe Data Integration Leadership with Expanded Database Support and Optimized Performance for DB2 on z/OS
Eclipse-Based DataDirect(R) Shadow(R) Studio Adds Dynamic-to-Static SQL Conversion for DB2 Users; Mainframe Integration Platform to Support IAM Databases
BEDFORD, Mass., (BUSINESS WIRE)
09-May-2007
DataDirect Technologies, the unparalleled leader in data connectivity and mainframe integration and an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS), has introduced new data connectivity features and development tools for mainframe DB2 and IAM databases within its industry leading DataDirect(R) Shadow(R) mainframe integration suite.
DataDirect has long supported application developers with its industry leading Shadow Studio, an open, Eclipse-based development environment which simplifies mainframe data access for non-mainframe developers. New to the Shadow Studio is the Dynamic-to-Static SQL Facility, which enables organizations that rely on DB2 for z/OS to gain the benefits of static SQL, including lower resource consumption and faster performance for dynamic SQL. In benchmarks performed in DataDirect's mainframe development lab, test results indicated the Dynamic-to-Static Facility improved performance by up to 70 percent.
Until now, developers were faced with the unattractive choice of suboptimal performance and significant resource consumption with dynamic SQL or manual conversion from dynamic to static SQL, which is time consuming and costly. With the new Dynamic-to-Static Facility of Shadow Studio, developers now have a graphical environment from which to evaluate SQL performance requirements as well as a non-invasive conversion tool to change dynamic SQL to higher performing static SQL for improved access to DB2 mainframe data from ODBC and JDBC(TM) distributed applications.
Customer acceptance of the Shadow Studio Dynamic-to-Static SQL Facility has been overwhelmingly positive. Her Majesty's Land Registry, where the British government stores information on more than 20 million properties in the world's largest DB2 installation, has experienced marked performance improvements and near perfect reliability and system uptime.
"We are using the Dynamic-to-Static Facility to increase processing throughput and for overall cost containment," said Steve Dean, principal data services manager at Land Registry. "Without this feature, ODBC compliant software which uses dynamic SQL is expensive to maintain. The new Eclipse-based graphical user interface greatly simplifies the systems management and performance tuning environment, enabling us to extend the usage of Shadow to more applications."
Support Added For IAM Databases
Unlike other alternatives for mainframe integration which provide point-to-point data access, DataDirect Shadow provides a single platform for exposing virtually any mainframe asset via industry standard interfaces. Building upon this unified platform, DataDirect has extended its support for mainframe data sources to now include support for the IAM (Innovation Access Method) database. Organizations that use the IAM disk file-storage scheme as an alternative to the traditional mainframe record-oriented VSAM (Virtual Storage Access Method) now have streamlined access through the Shadow mainframe integration product, supporting SQL access via ODBC and JDBC client drivers, as well as SOAP and XML event interfaces for Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA).
"While others offer point-to-point data access, DataDirect Shadow gives software architects and application developers a strategic alternative for mainframe integration," said John Goodson, vice president of product operations at DataDirect Technologies. "With our latest enhancements, we've made things easier and more cost effective for our customers while also extending our already considerable leadership position in mainframe data integration."
About DataDirect Technologies
DataDirect Technologies is the software industry's only comprehensive provider of software for connecting the world's most critical business applications to data and services, running on any platform, using proven and emerging standards. Developers worldwide depend on DataDirect(R) products to connect their applications to an unparalleled range of data sources using standards-based interfaces such as ODBC, JDBC(TM) and ADO.NET, XQuery and SOAP. More than 300 leading independent software vendors and thousands of enterprises rely on DataDirect Technologies to simplify and streamline data connectivity for distributed systems and to reduce the complexity of mainframe integration. DataDirect Technologies is an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS). For more information, visit www.datadirect.com.
DataDirect and Shadow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Java and all Java based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Media:
Articulate Communications Inc.
April Harned, 212-255-0080, ext. 11
aharned@articulatepr.com
or
DataDirect Technologies
Calvin Fudge, 281-634-8266
calvin.fudge@datadirect.com
SOURCE: DataDirect Technologies
