Alongside the SQL Server tool, the company has also launched support for iSCSI-attached back-end storage, support for 64-bit silicon from Intel and AMD, and a SQL Server 2005 migration consulting service.
PolyServe’s software creates high-end NAS clusters that run across Windows or Linux gateways or servers, and share a single file system. Since last year the underlying Matrix Server software has been OEM’ed by Hewlett-Packard Co, and including these OEM sales PolyServe is claiming over 500 customers, making a sizeable installed base for a privately-held company.
The SQL Server consolidation tool has already been sold to around 75 customers, but has not previously been GA. The company launched a tool for Oracle databases around two years ago, and also sells an IBM DB2 database utility. Across all three databases, PolyServe has chalked up just over 200 customers.
The Oracle database tools came first because PolyServe began life running on Linux. Customers who choose to run Oracle across multiple PolyServe gateways have mostly done so in order to cut costs, by switching to Lintel servers, PolyServe said.
In contrast, SQL Server customers who are already running on Windows will use PolyServe’s platform for consolidation, according to PolyServe CEO Mike Stankey. PolyServe claims that it can usually eliminate 50% of Windows servers and their associated costs. The consolidation sales will be linked to SQL Server 2005 migrations hence the consulting service launch.
PolyServe is still selling into Solaris shops. Stankey said that the company had just closed a deal on Wall Street that will see its software run on Solaris-powered Intel servers.
But the focus on Windows is being increased. Stankey quoted IDC’s estimate that Windows server revenue drew level with Unix server revenue for the first time ever in Q406, which signals Windows progression up-market in the server sector. He also cited the 3m-plus SQL Server installations that outnumber Oracle’s 1m-odd implementations.
PolyServe’s cluster file system allows multiple gateways or NAS heads to share access to the same data, so sharing data pumping workload across multiple boxes. Multiple native database instances run across multiple boxes, and can be moved between gateways at will in order to balance loads.
Microsoft is supporting PolyServe’s software when used with the Microsoft Virtual Server. Stankey said that MSVS does not have a mechanism to transfer virtual server images off a physical host if that host dies underneath them. But using the PolyServe software, virtual servers and database instances are automatically transferred to another host, the company said.
PolyServe said that its underlying Matrix Server software now supports iSCSI-based SANs, and the fist iSCSI vendor that it has qualified is EqualLogic.
