Opening Oracle World in San Francisco, California, the company will launch grid versions of its database and application server, Database 10g and Application Server 10g. An expanded version of Oracle Enterprise Manager capable of managing storage and network devices is also planned.

Enterprise Manager’s interfaces are also being exposed to work with management frameworks from IBM Corp and Hewlett Packard Co and other vendors, Oracle said. Integration means 10g will actually slot into these companies’ own grid strategies.

Oracle is taking what it believes to be a more realistic approach to grid computing. 10g is an Oracle-focused grid strategy, leaving big systems like IBM and HP to figure out how to manage grids composed of mixed, virtualized multi-vendor hardware and software.

Bob Shimp, vice president of Oracle’s platform marketing, called rivals’ strategies visionary but told ComputerWire they would take five to 10 years to deliver, unlike 10g. Oracle claims 10g will provide customers grid computing out-of-the box, without the need for specialized consulting or engineering work on a project-by-project basis.

We are not trying to create a grid for all the heterogeneous systems in the universe out there, from mainframes to desktops. Some companies have grander visions, and we think that’s many years away, Shimp said.

Zeroing in on IBM’s OnDemand and HP’s Adaptive Enterprise strategies, Shimp said: There’s an awful lot of vendors making broad statements about on-demand this and adaptive that.

Shimp predicted small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) would become the first to use 10g, as they outsource services to companies running Oracle’s products. A lot of SMBs will become the first to use the grid and not be aware of it, Shimp said.

Realism aside, Oracle is attempting to differentiate its application server and database against competitors in challenging economic conditions and commoditized markets. Despite growing market share, the 9i Application Server, for example, still lags market leaders BEA Systems Inc and IBM Corp, according to analysts’ statistics.

Gartner, meanwhile, reported in May that IBM grabbed the number-one RDMBS market position from Oracle in 2002, by taking 36.2% of new license revenues while Oracle was second with 33.9%. Both companies revenues’ declined compared to 2001, but Oracle fell further.

Shimp said 10g would help dramatically differentiate Oracle’s application server and database from competing IBM, BEA and Microsoft Corp products. He said these companies are attempting to scale-upwards while Oracle is already focussed on large Unix or Windows SMTP. They are stuck in the 1960s, Shimp claimed.

Source: Computerwire