The "range partition" function is added to the new IBM DB2 version.

To port Oracle database users to DB2, IBM will add the range partition (range partitioning) feature in DB2, codenamed Viper, it is expected that the new version of DB2 will be tested in mid-December August this year or mid-December September.

In fact, this new technology already exists in Oracle databases. "Range partitioning" can effectively improve the performance of high-end applications. IT can also make IT easy for developers to create applications in "Viper". For large IT stores, the entire environment for managing them will also be more agile.

"Range partition" is based on the "key value" key values) arrangement to draw data in the partition, "key value" is the basis for users to establish the partition. For example, companies often choose to divide sales data by month.

"'Range partition' can improve system performance, but it can also simplify the design of Large-scale parallel applications and facilitate streamlined management," said Janet Perna, managing the IBM software data management department. If we want to continue turning Oracle users to DB2, this is a very good thing to do ."

IBM said that when used in conjunction with Viper's multi-dimensional cluster MDC function, "range partitioning" makes data locating easier, this will effectively speed up obtaining information from complex queries.

Although "multi-dimensional cluster" and "range partition" are not that important compared to the XML feature to be included in "Viper", in the view of some database developers, these functions can improve performance and are very easy to use.

If "range partitioning" is added to DB2, it is just like Oracle, but IBM does not look at it like this. They say they use "multi-dimensional clustering" and "range partitioning" in combination, this database product will have a significant advantage.

In addition, in the testing phase, IBM will also add some other new features in Viper, including self-healing and self-management) and security to enhance the beefed up security function.

Another news to be mentioned is that another "dead-end" of IBM, Microsoft announced last week that it will officially release its database product SQL Server 2005 on November 7 as planned, along with this product, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006 were launched.