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New Data Replication Tool Connects iSeries with SQL, Oracle
by Dan Burger
The frequency with which Microsoft SQL Server-
based solutions are finding their way into iSeries and AS/400 enterprises continues to pick up speed, and
tools for data replication and transformation between these platforms advance as the demand grows. Or is it
the other way around?
According to HiT Software, a developer of standards-
based infrastructure for relational database access, IT teams deploying Web or client/server applications
based on SQL Server are finding that background data replication to iSeries servers brings with it real-time
application performance. HiT's technical experts also point out that replication from iSeries servers to SQL
Server minimizes real-time impact on iSeries application performance.
Last week the San Jose, California, company announced support for real-time SQL Server-to-iSeries-and-
AS/400 replication support in its DB2Motion 2.5. The product will be available in May, and trial versions
will be downloadable from the HiT Software Web site, at www.hitsw.com.
This newest feature supplements the basic DB2Motion functionality of replicating IBM iSeries and AS/400 application data to Microsoft SQL Server and
Oracle application environments. High on the list of
benefits for IT managers is single-tool capability for bidirectional data replication and data transformation
control.
DB2Motion uses a graphical administration interface, VBScript support for data replication and
transformation control, and a Windows service engine with log support. By generating events within the
Windows server environment in response to replication activity, users can check external process
conditions or data before data delivery. DB2Motion includes standard functions to perform lookups, access
SQL recordsets, and evaluate the replication log.
VBScript, along with user-defined functions, provides a more refined control at the record level of
replication. HiT officials claim that even with DB2Motion's new bidirectional support, it remains easy to
use and is minimally intrusive for the OS/400 environment. The fact that no programming is required on
either the source or the destination database server provides evidence for that claim.
HiT Software CEO Giacomo Lorenzin says organizations need more than data transformation and delivery.
He points out that DB2Motion provides tools that allow the quick application of custom business rules and
the capability to increase productivity by building intelligent data delivery processes.
DB2Motion 2.5 can be installed on Windows XP, 2000, and NT servers, and supports OS/400 V3R1 and
later, as well as SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server Version 7.
Licensing starts at $2,995 per server.
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