TimesTen Performance Software Inc is preparing to launch what it terms as a co-server for Oracle Corp’s Oracle 8 database. The product, code-named Front-Tier, is due out in the middle of the year. It will act as a multi-tiered network environment to pull forward performance critical data and database functionality. Front-Tier will offer a single Java-based interface to both data tiers, and will automatically maintain data consistency between the data stored in Front-Tier and Oracle 8.
Oracle already has some support for very large memory databases within Oracle 8. But Mountain View, California-based TimesTen, a Mountain View, California-based spin-off from Hewlett-Packard Co’s research labs, has concentrated on the development of in- memory databases. It says Front-Tier will act as a fully-fledged real-time RDBMS co-server. Version 3.2 of the mainstream TimesTen database is currently in beta test, and due out by the end of this month. It adds replication facilities, and a promised 70% performance boost over version 3.0 for multi-table queries.
TimesTen is aiming its technology at voice and data networks and internet applications. The company has just announced two major internet customers wins. MarketWatch.com will use TimesTen within its CBS MarketWatch web site to deliver immediate access to stock information. It plans to add further real-time financial news services and features using the product. And Yahoo! plans to use the database across multiple applications as part of its general software infrastructure.
With joint technology agreements with Hewlett-Packard Co and Sun Microsystems Inc already in place, TimesTen has now signed an agreement with Intel Corp for the development of an optimized version of the database for the IA-64 product line, beginning with Merced. Under the deal, TimesTen will begin performance tuning for Windows NT on 32-bit Intel processors including the Pentium III Xeon. The combination of 64-bit operating systems and processors will open up 2Gb addressing restrictions previously set by 32-bit systems.
But TimesTen is now facing direct competition from Palo Alto, California-based Angara Database Systems Inc, a main memory database company formed from a Stanford University research effort. Angara says its Data Server 3.0 product, the first commercial version and currently in beta, will be the first to run on the Linux platform. It is due to become generally available on March 29. á
