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Hitachi, Oracle develop innovative technology to prevent data corruption

Customers reap the benefits of new data integrity technology for Oracle databases integrated with Hitachi storage systems

Johannesburg, 23 Aug 2002

Hitachi, Ltd in collaboration with Oracle Corp and Oracle Corporation Japan, today announced they have developed a new data protection technology designed specifically for Oracle9i Database that prevents data corruption between the database and the networked storage disk system.

The technology, implemented at the microchip and microcode level, will be integrated with Hitachi`s new high-end storage subsystem, Lightning 9900V series (Japanese domestic name SANRISE 9900V series), available in August 2002.

The new data protection technology was initiated with Hitachi`s decision to support the Oracle Hardware Assisted Resilient Data (HARD) Initiative, a global initiative to construct resilient data management and storage solutions, launched by Oracle in November 2001. Engineering development groups from Hitachi and Oracle worked to integrate Oracle`s data integrity check algorithms into Hitachi storage systems. Together they have created technology that prevents writing corrupted data into all of Oracle`s internal file types: Oracle database files, REDO log files, and control files.

Joint engineering resulted in the "DB Validator" product, which prevents corrupted data blocks generated in the database-to-storage system infrastructure from being written onto the storage disk. The conventional combination of the networked storage and database management software has a risk of data corruption while writing data on the storage. This data corruption rarely occurs. However, once corrupted data is written into storage, it is difficult and time-consuming to detect the underlying cause, restore the system and recover the database. Hitachi DB Validator helps prevent potentially disastrous data corruption and minimises risk and potential costs in backup, restore and recovery operations.

Hitachi DB Validator is integrated into Hitachi`s high-end storage subsystems, `Lightning 9900V` and `SANRISE 9900V.` Combining Hitachi`s high-end storage subsystems with Oracle9i Database Release 2 provides a resilient system that can operate for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide the uptime required by enterprises today.

The DB Validator has been tested at the Hitachi-Oracle SAN Solution Technology Centre (SSTC), established at Oracle Japan in May 2000 to perform collaborative verification testing of actual customer operations and showcase integration and validation of advanced Hitachi storage capabilities with the Oracle database. The solutions and technical data verified at SSTC will be translated and provided worldwide. (http://www.sstc.gr.jp/) This will enable Hitachi and Oracle to provide better, more tightly integrated solutions to the worldwide market.

"The combination of Hitachi, the leading storage vendor, and Oracle, the leading database vendor, brings customers industry-leading solutions," said Mikito Ogata, general manager, Disk Array Systems Division, Hitachi, Ltd. "Hitachi and Oracle in cooperation with each other have developed a more robust and more fully protected validation than ever before. The advanced technologies of both companies combined seamlessly to realise one of the most robust database platforms for customers. As a result, Hitachi wants to expand collaborative solutions with Oracle."

"We are very happy with the results of Hitachi`s successful implementation of DB Validator as part of Oracle`s HARD Initiative," said Doug Kennedy, vice-president, Platform Alliances, Oracle Corporation. "The data validation functionality Hitachi developed with Oracle will further ensure the integrity of the data and provide more secure systems to our joint customers. We plan to continue to work closely with Hitachi to deliver service-ready solutions."

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DB Validator

The newly developed DB Validator is provided as one of the optional functions of Hitachi`s high-end storage product, `Lightning 9900V` and `SANRISE 9900V`.

When implemented, this functionality is a combination of a microchip and associated microcode. The microchip has a circuit to check data integrity mounted on the interface adapter of `Lightning 9900V` and `SANRISE 9900V`. The microcode is software that runs on the 9900V controller.

Data corruption that occurs outside of the database is very difficult to detect and can be very expensive and time consuming to fix after the fact. Data corruption can occur in any or all of the layers before writing data into storage; for example, while passing through the operating system, channel adapter, or network. In these cases, since the output data is written without error into the storage, the database cannot detect the corrupted data until it tries to read the data, at which time, a read error occurs and the system stops.

Hitachi

Hitachi, Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 320 000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2001 (ended 31 March 2002) consolidated sales totalled 7 994 billion yen ($60.1 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company`s Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.

Oracle

Oracle is the world`s largest enterprise software company. For more information, please visit www.oracle.com.

Editorial contacts

Michele Turner
Howard Mellet & Associates
(011) 463 4611
michele@hmcom.co.za