PLATINUM technology's new tool for Oracle databases speeds data unloading by up to 23 times; PLATINUM Fast Unload for Oracle helps maximize data availability

Business Wire, June 24, 1996

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 1996--PLATINUM technology, inc., today announced availability of PLATINUM Fast Unload for Oracle, a software utility that provides database administrators (DBAs) with the ability to extract data from an Oracle database table up to 23 times faster than Oracle Export. This allows DBAs to significantly increase the amount of time that data is available to them and end-users.

Fast Unload achieves its high speed by directly accessing Oracle database files, completely bypassing the SQL engine and Oracle kernel. No other data unloading product accesses Oracle database files in this manner.

"Fast Unload is a key product for any Oracle shop, particularly those trying to achieve 24 x 7 data availability," said Scott Kane, senior vice president of database management for PLATINUM. "The need to quickly move data in and out of the Oracle database tables is critical because more and more mission-critical applications requiring continuous availability are being implemented on Oracle databases."

"With several huge Oracle databases, I've spent entire weekends importing data to and exporting data from Oracle," said Gary Baugh, a database administrator with Fenton, MO-based Maritz Inc., a family of companies, the largest being Maritz Performance Improvement Company. "PLATINUM Fast Unload will minimize the time we spend with such tedious tasks, and be increasingly important as we become a shop requiring 24 x 7 data availability."

During independent benchmark tests conducted at an insurance company, Oracle Export unloaded a 5,993,154 row table from Oracle V7.2 in 9 hours, 51 minutes, and 43 seconds; Fast Unload unloaded the same table in just 25 minutes and 57 seconds -- which is 23 times faster than Oracle Export.

Key Features

Fast Unload offers Oracle DBAs a host of features to speed data unloading and protect the data being moved, including: -- Selective data unloading -- allowing users to extract specific rows and columns from a tablespace, further reducing the time it takes to unload select data; -- Flexible output formatting options -- allowing output records to be automatically formatted for compatibility with PLATINUM Fast Load for DB2 for MVS, IBM DB2 Load, Oracle SQL-Loader, Sybase BCP, Informix DBLoad, and other database load utilities; and -- Multiple output files -- allowing for unloading of a table that is larger than 2 gigabytes (the maximum filesystem size on most UNIX systems today), increasing the reliability of an unload process.

Fast Unload Will Be Integrated with Other PLATINUM Tools

Fast Unload is designed for tight integration with the PLATINUM Open Enterprise Management Solution (POEMS) architecture. In addition to operating standalone, Fast Unload will provide improved performance and flexibility to the following PLATINUM products that need to extract data from Oracle: PLATINUM TSreorg, a tablespace reorganization tool; PLATINUM NetArchive, a backup/recovery and hierarchical storage management tool; PLATINUM InfoPump, middleware for bi-directional data replication; and PLATINUM AutoSys, a job scheduling tool.

PLATINUM also offers PLATINUM Fast Unload for DB2 for MVS, and PLATINUM Fast Unload for Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase.

PLATINUM Provides Nearly 30 Tools for Oracle

With the addition of Fast Unload, PLATINUM now offers nearly 30 tools for Oracle -- more than any other independent software tools vendor. PLATINUM provides Oracle administrators products for database management, data warehousing, business intelligence, systems management, and application development.

Pricing, Availability, Platform Support

Fast Unload for Oracle is available now. The utility is compatible with Oracle 7. It runs on most UNIX operating systems, including SunOS 4.1 and above, Sun Solaris 2.3 and above, HP-UX 8.0 and above, IBM AIX 3.2 and above, and DEC OSF/1 3.0 and above. Prices start at $5,000 per server.

Fast Unload sales information can be obtained by contacting PLATINUM at 800/442-6861 or 708/620-5000, or info@platinum.com.

PLATINUM's Database Management Strategy

PLATINUM technology offers the industry's most complete set of database management solutions for managing multiple databases across the Open Enterprise Environment (OEE). PLATINUM's database management solutions enable database administrators to simplify the administration of multiple, heterogeneous databases across an enterprise in the areas of application development, database administration, performance analysis, and utilities.

PLATINUM protects IT investments by offering cost-effective solutions and an open, scaleable, architecture for future growth. Database management is a key element of POEMS. POEMS is an integrated, multi-tiered solution that encompasses application lifecycle, business intelligence, database management, data warehouse, and systems management. -0- EDITOR'S NOTE:

Additional information about PLATINUM technology, inc. is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.platinum.com.

EDITORS NOTE: There is a double slash following "http:" in the World Wide Web addresses referenced in this release. Also, there is an "at" symbol between "dobinski" and "platinum.com"; between "peter.gorman" and "cbpr.com" and between "info" and "platinum.com" in the E-mail addresses referenced above and below. These symbols may not appear properly in some systems.