JD Edwards announces OneWorld Xe support for IBM`s DB2 universal database across Unix, Windows 2000 platforms

JD Edwards & Company, a leading provider of agile, collaborative solutions for the connected economy, today announced the general availability of its OneWorld Xe collaborative commerce applications on IBM`s DB2 Universal Database (DB2 UDB) for Unix and Microsoft Windows 2000 platforms.

JD Edwards` OneWorld Xe implementations will offer exclusive DB2 optimisation and configuration tools. DB2 will also now serve as JD Edwards` internal development and maintenance platform.

The DB2-based OneWorld Xe software meets enterprises` demand for collaborative commerce solutions that are both feature-rich and have a low total cost of ownership.

Compared with other available databases, DB2 offers all of the features and functions of a world-class database, and is less expensive to purchase, implement and maintain. In addition to a low purchase price, DB2 is easier to install, upgrade, configure and tune. For example, the DB2 solution masks the technical complexities associated with other databases that can require more advanced database administrators to monitor and implement.

DB2 is now JD Edwards` preferred OneWorld Xe database for Unix environments and one of two preferred databases for Windows environments. DB2 is also now the preferred database for JD Edwards customers migrating from WorldSoftware to OneWorld Xe collaborative applications.

As JD Edwards customers build their collaborative commerce capabilities, they are looking for a database foundation that will grow with their needs and mirror JD Edwards` open technology. DB2 can fulfil these needs and provides an enterprise-strength database that can manage large amounts of data created from JD Edwards supply chain management, enterprise and CRM applications. JD Edwards will support DB2 on a wide variety of platforms, including AIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX and Microsoft Windows 2000 customer environments, as well as provide continued support for DB2 on IBM`s eServer iSeries running OS/400.

JD Edwards OneWorld Xe implementations with DB2 have been optimised to include configuration tools and enhancements not available on other JD Edwards database platforms. These features ease the OneWorld Xe installation process and speeds the implementation process. Also exclusive to OneWorld Xe on DB2 implementations are pre-packaged installation, tuning and performance guides.

"The combination of DB2 with JD Edwards` collaborative business applications provides companies with a sure-fire advantage in conducting business in an Internet-based environment," said Janet Perna, general manager, IBM Data Management Solutions. "We`re delighted that JD Edwards has recognised the unsurpassed performance, reliability, and scalability of DB2, which will bring enhanced value to its customers."

Earlier this year, JD Edwards and IBM announced a strategic alliance, expanding their 25-year relationship, to jointly sell and market collaborative commerce solutions.

"Businesses that are transitioning to collaborative commerce want a high-performance, scalable, and affordable solution," said Hank Bonde, COO at JD Edwards. "DB2 fully supports this demand and provides JD Edwards customers with the flexibility and the best feature/functionality needed to fulfil their collaborative business needs. This is another milestone in our long-standing partnership with IBM."

The first in a series of benchmarks for OneWorld Xe and DB2 was performed using an IBM eServer pSeries p660.

Highlights of the benchmark include:

• .         Price/performance characteristics to deliver lower total cost of ownership (TCO);

• .         Scalability to meet rapidly changing business environments;

• .         4 100 concurrent users;

• .         82 000 sales order line items per hour;

• .         0.60-second user response time; and

• .         35% average CPU utilisation.