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Versant Delivers Next Generation Suite of Database Products; Release 5.0
Family Provides "Out of the Box" Support for High Performance N-tier
Network Computing
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Date: Tuesday, February 25, 1997
Source: Business Wire
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MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via Individual Inc. -- Versant Object
Technology Corp. (NASDAQ:VSNT), a leader in database systems for the
network computing infrastructure, today announced Versant Release 5.0 - the
next generation in its family of object data management products.
The suite of products allows organizations to build the flexible and robust
networking infrastructures that, in combination with existing IT systems,
enables organizations to meet their operational requirements and financial
goals.
Versant Release 5.0 includes an enhanced version of the core Versant Object
Database Management System (ODBMS) engine - two to three times faster than
Versant's previous release. The announcement also includes additional
products such as: the Versant SQL Suite, for standard relational-like query
access from PCs and browsers; VersantWeb, an application framework for
enhancing the capability of thin clients; enhanced development using Java,
C++, and Smalltalk; and collaboration with several of the leading providers
of real-world CORBA solutions.
"Mainstream corporations are now required to deal with far more complex
data processing and distributed operations than ever before," said Hugh
Bishop, vice president of Emerging Technologies Research at Aberdeen Group,
a Boston-based market research firm. "For today's complex, distributed
applications, the ability to manage objects and components while enabling
distributed operations is critical. With Release 5.0, Versant is one of the
few that really understands these requirements."
Robert Freeman, Versant's vice president of marketing, said, "Successful
network computing is all about managing the infrastructure: moving data
processing power into the network so it is as close to the client as
possible while maintaining centralized control and management. Versant has
a long history of deployments in the world's telecommunications industry
and that expertise underlies our competence in network computing. Release
5.0 cements our place as a dominant supplier for core network computing
infrastructures."
Core Database Enhancements Deliver Performance and Scalability Improvements
With Versant Release 5.0, the core database delivers significant
improvements through four fundamental technologies: 1) multi-threaded
database client and server; 2) multi-session client capabilities; 3) SMP
server enhancements; and 4) logging and memory management enhancements for
improved transactional throughput. In combination, these features address
the greatest requirements of database developers today -- performance and
scalability.
-- Performance improvements derive from three features: Versant's
multi-threaded client and server functionality boost performance through
its use of native operating system threads instead of heavier OS processes;
multi-session client capabilities deliver high throughput that is
particularly important for three-tier Web and CORBA applications; and
finally, version 5.0 offers overlapped disk I/O and background memory
management enhancements, enabling even further improvements in performance
for transaction-intensive applications.
-- Scalability improvements are achieved through support of multi-session
operations on the front end and support for full SMP capabilities in the
server. The combination of these two features enables construction of "out
of the box" N-tier architectures that can scale to support massive
centralized or distributed computing infrastructures. Today, no other
database vendor offers this combination of features and implementations.
"Versant's Release 5.0 enhancements deliver specific functionality that
allows EDS to meet the requirements of our Fortune 1000 customers who
conduct digital content management. These are significantly-increased
performance and scalability," said Rob Dyson, product manager, Media Vault
Technologies, EDS Infotainment Division. "Our customers have two basic
requirements: the ability to manage huge streams of data, audio and video,
as well as the ability to manage and manipulate those objects in a
distributed environment. We expect that Versant Release 5.0 will deliver
even greater results for EDS to meet those requirements."
New Database Access Products
The Versant Release 5.0 family includes the new VersantWeb and Versant SQL
Suite. VersantWeb allows a browser to emulate a live database session by
providing state and session management, dynamic page information, and load
balancing across multiple applications and Web servers. VersantWeb provides
dynamic access to Versant information via popular Internet access methods,
enabling customers to build multitier network architectures with access
from lightweight, inexpensive desktop devices.
The Versant SQL Suite, shipping today, offers "out-of- the-box" query
capabilities, comparable to those available for relational systems. By
providing automatic mapping and indexing from Versant, users get SQL, ODBC
and JDBC access to any Versant data through thousands of packaged products
such as Microsoft Access, Crystal Reports and Sybase PowerBuilder.
Development Products Deliver Ultimate Flexibility
In keeping with Versant's commitment to heterogeneous development
environments, Release 5.0 offers application developers additional choice
and flexibility with its new Versant Java Direct Interface and improvements
in its Versant C++ and Versant Smalltalk Interfaces. These offerings
support the growing trend of companies taking a cross-language strategy and
enable programmers to develop applications in their language of choice.
-- Versant Java Direct Interface - Offers access to core Versant
functionality from Java including active manipulation of objects and
multi-threading. The Versant Java Direct Interface also enables access to
any Versant objects stored in any of the supported languages.
-- Versant C++ Interface - Offers 100% compliance with the Object Database
Management Group's (ODMG) specifications, ensuring reduced risk in
development with a standards-based approach. Support for the Standard
Template Library (STL) and the Rogue Wave Tools.h++ offer interoperability
with industry standard C++ components.
-- Versant Smalltalk Interfaces - Versant delivers the highest performance
Smalltalk access in the industry through its extremely efficient object
access capabilities. In addition, support is provided for IBM VisualAge
3,0, the newest Smalltalk dialect, and enhanced support for
ParcPlace-Digitalk VisualWorks 2.5 and VisualWave.
Unique in the industry, Versant's language foundations allow applications
developed in one object programming language to access and utilize objects
that were created in a different language, permitting construction of
enterprise-scale object infrastructures.
Integration Products and Solutions
Versant Release 5.0 offers standards-based integration with legacy
environments through its support of the industry's leading CORBA products.
These include integrated offerings with IONA Technologies' ORBIX product,
Expersoft Corporation's PowerBroker, and NEO and JOE from SunSoft, a
division of Sun Microsystems. The integration will provide a CORBA server
with high levels of scalability and the recoverability required for true
enterprise-wide deployment. In addition, CORBA provides a consistent
interface for building distributed, heterogeneous infrastructures that take
advantage of existing and new corporate data, a key requirement for N-tier
computing.
-- Versant has partnered with IONA to deliver ORBIX+Versant Adapter, the
currently available integration tool providing support for CORBA
development between these two leading distributed object products;
-- Expersoft has delivered a formal integration between its PowerBroker
product and Versant, allowing them to support enterprise-scale construction
of distributed applications based on CORBA and object application
technology;
-- The Versant ODBMS and SunSoft will work together to integrate with
SunSoft's NEO, based on specifications outlined by the ODMG and the Object
Management Group.
Pricing and Availability
Versant Release 5.0 will be simultaneously available on Sun,
Hewlett-Packard and Windows NT platforms. The Versant ODBMS 5.0 is shipping
to a limited number of initial release customers, with general availability
scheduled to begin in May this year. Deployment pricing for the database
product starts at $3,500 for Solaris and HP-UX, and $2,150 for Windows NT.
Release 5.0 products already shipping include the Versant SQL Suite, and
the Versant C++ and Smalltalk Interfaces; pricing for the Versant SQL Suite
is $750 per user. VersantWeb is scheduled to begin shipping in April,
pricing is to be determined. The Versant Java Direct Interface is scheduled
to ship in Q2'97; one of the three development interfaces is included free
with the Versant ODBMS.
Versant - The Next Generation Is The Infrastructure
With Release 5.0, Versant further exceeds competitive offerings from
object, object/relational and relational database vendors. The Versant
ODBMS is uniquely capable of supporting the requirements of network
computing, requirements that are increasingly part of mainstream IT. In
environments as diverse as airline reservation systems, telecommunications
network management, medical imaging and supply chain management, multimedia
and collaboration software, and service management and billing systems,
Versant has distinguished itself as a leader in the hardest production
environments in the world.
The combination of its balanced architecture that enables client-side
processing with server-side control, its unique object-level locking for
high concurrency, its distributed server architecture that allows multiple
servers to manage a single large database image, and its industry-leading
database performance on complex OLTP applications, allows organizations to
build and deploy highly scalable yet flexible systems that meet evolving
business requirements.
About Versant Object Technology Corporation
Versant Object Technology (NASDAQ:VSNT) is a leading provider of object
database management systems for the network computing infrastructure.
Versant develops and markets the Versant ODBMS as well as related products
and services, including Web products for managing, vending and distributing
Web pages, business objects and applets; the Versant Fault Tolerant Server;
programming language interfaces to Java, C++, Smalltalk, SQL- based legacy
data integration, and a family of customer support services.
Versant has proven deployments across a range of telecommunications
applications as well as in other vertical markets such as financial
services, health care, energy and in the emerging market for transactional
Internet applications. Versant customers include Alcatel Telecom, AT&T,
EDS, Genuity Inc., Sabre Decision Technologies, Scotiabank, Siemens Medical
Systems, Spyglass Inc., Texaco and TRW. Additional information about
Versant and its products may be obtained via the World Wide Web at
www.versant.com .
CONTACT: Versant Object Technology Corp. | Jay Mellman, 415/329-7505 |
[email protected] | or | The Horn Group | Susan Rozmanith | 415/579-6447 |
[email protected]
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