Sybase Teams Up With HP

Sybase Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. today announced that they will prepackage Sybases Adaptive Server Enterpriserelational database management system running under the HP-UX or Red Hat Linux operating system on HP Itanium 2-based servers.

Sybase is also planning to roll out a version of ASE that runs on HPs forthcoming EV7 processor-based AlphaServer systems—a move that will provide new options for HP Tru64 Unix customers to extend current installations or to power new solutions. Sybase executives arent releasing prices yet and said that the Itanium 2-based system packages will be available in 2003.

“Were being cautious with setting expectations too quickly around the Itanium chip, because of the relative newness of systems on a mission-critical scale that are using that chip,” said Rick Linden, product manager of Sybases Enterprise Solutions Division, in Dublin, Calif.

The fact that many Sybase customers are inquiring about 64-bit support on the Itanium prompted the company to announce its commitment to the technology, Linden said. Many customers are looking at migrating to 64-bit technology because it will allow them to leverage memory above 4 gigabytes—an attractive option, he said, since “memory is significantly less expensive than it used to be.”

The Compaq Computer Corp./HP merger has stirred almost as much Sybase customer concern when it comes to continued support on the HP-UX RISC and Compaq RISC systems, Linden said. Sybase has pledged to support those platforms through at least 2005.

Reassuring customers also motivated the companies to put out word that ASE will be available on EV7-based systems, said Les Apigian, HP global alliance manager for Sybase, in Nashua, N.H. “We thought it was important to get the news out for AlphaServer customers,” he said. “Its important that they understand that Sybase will continue to be supported on the AlphaServer platform. Over time, they know Itanium is the strategy, but were not forcing people to move until theyre ready.”

The EV7-based systems from HP, of Palo Alto, Calif., will be available in early 2003. Pricing is not yet available.