Philip
Here is HDS web site news release. Quite impressive!
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HDS Nucleus Series Intelligent Data Storage Accelerates Database Queries
Up to 1,000 times faster than standard database systems
SANTA CLARA, California,27 May, 1997-- The HDS Nucleus Series, a new database system from
Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), offers the ability to cut query times by as much a 99 percent and enables
users to search massive databases in seconds and minutes instead of hours and days.
The Nucleus Series provides a database management system based upon the Nucleus technology
developed by Sand Technology System International, Inc. of Montreal, Canada. "The Nucleus Series is a
significant breadthrough in information management," said Jerry Shattner, president of HDS Canada, and
head of the Nucleus project, "It is now possible to search large amounts of data quickly, efficiently, and
cost-effectively."
"Moreover, the new product has been designed to fit into most existing computing infrastructures,
allowing incredibly quick implementation and return on investment," said Shattner. Due to a unique data
storage architecture adapted for computer manipulation, the Nucleus Series offers a significant advantage
to the information storage and retrieval process. In contrast to conventional relational database
architectures, which store tabular information as literal records, the Nucleus Series stores tables using a
columnar organization.
Since most database operations involve non-procedural searches, selections, or comparisons of sets of
values, the process yields significant performance advantages over record-oriented systems.
The Nucleus Series is fully-compatible with IBM's DB/2 database, and can be used to augment
performance of most other popular database systems as well. It offers all the security features of DB/2,
qenerally perceived to be the most robust commercial database system. Due to the way Nucleus stores
data, the data is automatically encrypted. The Nucleus Series' functionality will allow end users with PCs to run
complex queries that otherwise would bring mainframes or other database machines to a standstill.
"Nucleus breakthrough technology delivers speedy access to large data warehoused at a reasonable price.
Users can now get answers to complex queries that were heretofore technologically impractical or
financially infeasible," said Mike Kahn, Chairman of the Clipper Group, Inc., a Wellesley, Massachusetts
market research and consulting firm.
The Nucleus Series gives users the ability to implement a data mart or a prototype data warehouse in only
a few days or weeks, thereby improving the productivity of both end users and database administrators.
The Nucleus Series database is inherently 100 percent indexed by virtue of the way the data is stored.
Users no longer have to endure a complicated and constantly changing index and clustering process, as
done in conventional database systems. Because of its unique characteristics, Nucleus databases require
few or no reorganizations as their contents change.
Included in the Nucleus Series are several different technologies, some of which are incorporated in
existing products of HDS and partner companies and others that are patented by Sand Technology
Systems and are used exclusively in the Nucleus Series. The core technologies are a bit-compression
storage mechanism, combined with very sophisticated mathematical formulas designed to rapidly search
the compressed, bit encoded data.
Hitachi Data Systems president and CVEO Steve West said, "HDS is committed to be at the forefront of
productive computing technology for our customers. The Nucleus Series offers and exciting and innovative
approach to help them tackle difficult and resource-draining decision support problems."
There are three different models of the Nucleus Series. They include departmental servers, with 16-96GB
(gigabytes) or data storage capacity,data mart servers, with 32-256GB data storage capacity, and
enterprise servers, with capacity beyond one terabyte of data storage.
The Nucleus Series package includes the Nucleus database system, the HDS 5700 family of products and
a 64-Bit SMP CPU controller with up to 12 parallel processors. The product is housed in a self-contained
rack system complete with ESCON*,LAN, and tape robot capabilities.
Unlike many other decision support systems which must be built and maintained by various component
providers, the Nucleus Series, hardware and software, is completely supported by HDS technicans.
Another unique component of this support is an Analyst Help Desk for use by end-users of the product.
"We intend to provide the same level of service excellence to our Nucleus Series customers that has
traditionally placed HDS at the top of the customer satisfaction list year after year," said Gerry van der
Knaap, head of HDS Nucleus Series Support Center of HDS Canada.
Pricing and Availability
The Nucleus Series is now available for customers, initially in North America, at prices ranging from
approximately 350,000 to more the $4 million, depending on capacity, The product is priced and
licensed based on the size and performance requirements of the database.
About HDS
Hitachi Data Systems markets, worldwide, a broad range of information processing solutions,including
enterprise servers, storage subsystems, peripheral products, and professional services. Owned by Hitachi,
Ltd. and EDS, HDS has its headquarters in Santa Clara, California. For online information about HDS'
products and services, access htt;//www.hdshq.com on the World Wide Web.
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It looks like to me that HDS has committed large amounts of their resoures and technical support to bring the
nucleus to a succesful launch.
This truly is a remarkable piece of technology. HDS obviously knows this and is reacting accordingly. Lets hope they con
convince the industry that this outstanding product will become the stantard for the data minining industry. Personnally I
believe they will succeed beyond any of our personnel expectations.
Patience |
