EDITORIAL CONTACT: PRCS4700329 Lynne Hanson (408) 447-1415 HP INTRODUCES REPLICATION FOR ITS MAINFRAME-CLASS RDBMS TO ENABLE DATABASE SHADOWING PALO ALTO, Calif., May 5, 1993 -- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced a new replication capability for its HP ALLBASE/SQL relational-database-management system (RDBMS). The add-on product, called HP ALLBASE/Replicate, allows all or part of an HP ALLBASE/SQL database to be "shadowed" (replicated) to other locations on the same or different systems over a network. The ability to replicate and synchronize data -- potentially over vast geographical areas -- means users can increase fault resilience (protection) by maintaining shadow copies of the database. It also provides them with local access to remote data and improved database performance through offloading read-only applications to the shadow database. HP's RDBMS' shadowing implementation offers real-time updates and updates on systems not operating continuously. These two features let users back up their shadow databases while still using the primary one. This capability promotes 24-hour system availability, instant remote-system updates and built-in disaster recovery in case of system failure. "Replication is being seen increasingly as a database- updating mechanism that improves the accessibility and reliability of distributed data in a network environment," said Cathy D. FitzGerald, HP's software/networks marketing manager for HP's Commercial Systems Division. "HP ALLBASE/Replicate is HP's response to customers' requests for this kind of database enhancement and makes HP one of the first major SQL database providers to offer this capability." Meeting Customer Requirements Previously, most distributed database transactions have been performed on an all-or-nothing basis through a two-phase commit protocol that requires the sender and receiver to be active. Since networks are not always up and running (especially over a vast geographical area), two-phase commit is not always practical or cost-effective. As a result, HP ALLBASE/Replicate offers an alternative that simplifies updating database transactions, increases database redundancy and improves control over the network traffic load. By maintaining shadow copies on the network, HP ALLBASE/Replicate automates updating and synchronizing distributed database transactions according to predetermined customizable options. In this way, if the primary copy of an HP ALLBASE/SQL database environment is unavailable, application processes could continue to operate by switching to one of the shadow database copies. HP ALLBASE/Replicate also improves access to remote databases. In the distributed environment, often it is necessary to access a database at a different site. Since establishing a remote login capability for each location is expensive and/or impractical, HP ALLBASE/Replicate provides the capability to view pieces of regional data as a whole by combining them at one site. As distributed databases include more data, there are cases in which remote sites must operate non-stop and unattended. To ensure that remote data is backed up reliably, HP ALLBASE/Replicate enables the primary and secondary database copies to be exact matches. In addition, since the secondary database does not always need to mirror the primary database, remote backup operations are more flexible. How It Works HP ALLBASE/Replicate is designed to give users the flexibility of multiple copies of the same HP ALLBASE/SQL data at different sites over a network. In this way, HP ALLBASE/Replicate provides version independence by keeping multiple secondary copies of the data synchronized with the master copy that resides elsewhere on the network. For example, in the event that a system running a replicate version of the database is not operational, HP ALLBASE/Replicate follows steps to ensure that it can be synchronized with the master database once the system starts functioning again. To begin synchronization, the secondary database determines how far behind the master database it has fallen. Then, the secondary database finds the last transaction it missed in the master database and makes that transaction the synchronization point. Finally, the primary database transmits all the latest records to the secondary database, which makes the updates. HP ALLBASE/Replicate Components HP ALLBASE/Replicate consists of two main components. One is an engine that changes the HP ALLBASE/SQL environment to facilitate replication. The second is an application that runs on top of the engine and executes the resync process. Users of HP ALLBASE/Replicate have the option of buying the Replicate application from a third party or customizing the HP-supplied version. Specifically, HP ALLBASE/Replicate has added extensions to the HP ALLBASE/SQL interface that allow it to support replication-driven changes to the HP ALLBASE/SQL log manager. HP ALLBASE/Replicate also includes a set of intrinsic specifications that allow the resync application to access these changes. The customizable component of the overall solution, the resync application, dictates the primary and secondary synchronization points used by the various replication processes in updating the database. HP ALLBASE/Replicate runs across the HP 9000 workstation and business servers, and HP 3000 business system families and supports database shadowing between the two environments. About HP ALLBASE/SQL As part of its broader information-management strategy, HP offers HP ALLBASE/SQL to users interested in reducing data-center costs while moving to open systems and client/server computing. "Designed to service mainframe-class workloads in a data-center environment, HP ALLBASE/SQL typically costs one-tenth the price of traditional mainframe RDBMSs, yet offers customers better performance and functionality," said FitzGerald. HP's ALLBASE/SQL supports high-volume, online, transaction-processing computing and coexists with HP and non-HP databases. HP ALLBASE/SQL runs across all HP 3000 business computers and HP 9000 workstations and business servers. U.S. Prices and Availability HP ALLBASE/Replicate is expected to be available in June. Prices are expected to range from $6,800 to $19,900 on the HP 9000 Series 800 business servers and from $2,400 to $23,400 on the HP 3000 900 Series business computers. Prices for a version that will run on the HP Apollo 9000 Series 700 workstations are being determined. Prices for HP's ALLBASE/SQL database range from $2,250 on a small, departmental server to $70,350 for a version supporting thousands of users on the HP Corporate Business Systems. Hewlett-Packard Company is an international manufacturer of measurement and computation products and systems recognized for excellence in quality and support. The company's products and services are used in industry, business, engineering, science, medicine and education in approximately 110 countries. HP has 93,100 employees and had revenue of $16.4 billion in its 1992 fiscal year. # # #