BMC updates management tools for DB2

BMC Software Inc. plans to soon release new versions of two applications for managing IBM Corp.'s DB2 UDB (Universal Database), making available to DB2 users features already out for those working with Oracle Corp.'s database software.

The releases are part of BMC's scheduled deliverables for its "Project Golden Gate," an initiative aimed at providing a single management console for administrating mainframe and distributed databases from various vendors. Rivals including Quest Software Inc. are pursuing similar initiatives.

The console is BMC's SmartDBA interface. SQL-BackTrack for DB2 UDB, version 3.0, one of the two releases announced this week, marks the first time that the product will be integrated with SmartDBA. The new version allows users to handle backup and recovery of DB2 databases through SmartDBA's unified, Web-based interface.

Also forthcoming from BMC is SmartDBA Performance Management for DB2 UDB, version 2.5. Performance Management for DB2 is already integrated with SmartDBA to some degree. The new version builds on that by adding a common alerts system for monitoring different types of databases through the unified console.

SmartDBA Performance Management for DB2 UDB also offers diagnostic, space management and performance tuning features for DB2 databases.

Both products already support management of Oracle's databases through SmartDBA, and will support unified management of Microsoft Corp.'s SQL Server databases by early 2004, BMC spokeswoman Julie Akstin-Dearing said. BMC's priority order for integrating vendor products with SmartDBA is Oracle first, IBM second, SQL Server third, she said.

SmartDBA Performance Management for DB2 UDB version 2.5, due in June, is priced at US$6,985 per workgroup server. SQL-BackTrak for DB2 UDB version 3.0, slated for July, starts at $5,610 for up to 25G-bytes. Both are scheduled to be available worldwide.