Posts Tagged ‘Oracle’

Not Just Iron Man.

Friday, June 4th, 2010

Not Just Iron Man

Complex Analytics are Now for Everyone.

 

I have to apologize for not posting in a while but I do work for a living. The recent announcement from Netezza of TwinFin i-Class has opened a whole new world by adding advanced analytics as an offering on the most recent and innovative release of the only true MPP analytic appliance. I assume we all do know what an appliance is. We all know what is expected from an appliance and Netezza is the only company that provides this tight and total integration of database, server, analytics and storage while maintaining the simplicity and ease of use users have come to expect. Complex statistical modeling and predictive analytics are executed using tools that are familiar and standard for end users.

 

Do any of you have a process that removes the data from the database to use multiple servers or CPUs to apply some complex logic for statistical, predictive or for that matter any analytical purpose, against large volumes of data, and then write it back to the database? If your answer is “yes” then you need to know there is a better way!

 

With Netezza, you can write a simple or complex SQL statement and include a call to a non-sql program that applies the logic to the records resulting from the SQL statement, on-stream and at Netezza’s unparalleled speed. TwinFin i-Class enables the execution of complex algorithms and logic developed in SAS, R, Python, Java CC++ and others. What does this mean to you? It means that complex analytics and non-database processing can be not only simplified, but accelerated, while introducing operational efficiencies that cannot be obtained with traditional technologies.

 

Here is a quote from of one Netezza’s long standing partners, Epsilon, on our initial release of UDX support (user defined functions) that was initially available for CC++:

 

“Many of the marketing decisions of our major US banking client are dependent upon an individual’s credit history. From each of the three major credit bureaus we receive data for the entire population of the US. Since the credit data for an individual can be inconsistent across the three bureaus, we use Netezza’s On-stream analytics to select which of the three sources of data is the most reliable. It’s an algorithm that examines over 80 credit attributes and has over 300 branch points. We score the entire population of the US in 20 minutes. It doesn’t get any easier than that.”

 

The capabilities are extended dramatically with TwinFin i-Class. Can Oracle do this? Not a chance in hell. As a matter of fact, I travel a bit and have seen the displays at airport baggage claims advertising the appearance of Larry in IronMan2 “SUN Hardware, Oracle Software – IronMan2”. In reality that is exactly what Oracle has done: a lot of expensive hardware thrown at an already problematic design (SMP) for analytics that will work OK until processing needs exceed the power provided - and then you throw more expensive hardware at the problem. Well, the good news is that Netezza has the most innovative approach to solving complex analytic problems with IBM hardware, Netezza software and i-Class…not just Iron Man.

 

And with the introduction of Skimmer, an entry level Netezza Appliance with up to 10TB of capacity priced at 125k, you don’t have to be the big corporation to compete on analytics. Netezza is a cost effective and advanced technology for the masses. Visit Enzee Universe in June and see and feel for yourself the excitement surrounding this continuously-innovative company, Netezza. Register now and take advantage of free training, great sessions, speakers and a bunch more. Check it out and I will look forward to seeing you there. Hurry and register at www.enzeeuniverse.com. You will like what you see I guarantee it.

The Buck Stops Here

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The latest issue of Policy Truth is pretty clear - we simply cannot be fooled by the hidden costs related to the setup and use of any system, especially the HP Oracle Database Machine. Is it truly an appliance that is packaged, maintained, updated and managed as a single entity? When a single component fails will the support be seamless with a single point of contact? I have a sneaking suspicion that the answer is “no”.

When I think of an appliance what comes to my low-capacity, highly-utilized and somewhat challenged brain is that I plug it into the wall and potentially connect it to another source, like water or a SAN in the case of a data warehouse appliance. It should be as simple as installing a washing machine or even a coffee maker. After the installation is complete I expect to add my ingredients: clothes, coffee or even data. Once complete, I’ll make a few adjustments and push the start button.

That’s simplicity and is exactly how the Netezza appliance works, but caveat emptor when it comes to something that Redwood Shores calls a database machine! The truth is you still need to reconfigure your partitioning, analyze your indexing strategy, build cubes and perform all your physical mappings. Even more then that, you’ll need to move to 11g and we know what a nightmare it is to upgrade from one version of Oracle to another.

You can certainly choose not to take my advice, but as the leader of the DLM, I want to be sure you know the truth and understand what goes into the true TCO of appliances. My life as a technologist has been focused on choosing the right tool for the right job - with the least amount of impact to my business. When it comes to deep analytics and high-performance business intelligence, businesses today must be prepared to respond to the volatility in the economy and maintain a competitive advantage. Tuning is not the answer. The ability to ask any question at any time, without limits, is the answer today’s leading businesses need and TCO is more important today then it has ever been.

You the user are in control so get involved, demand the truth and full disclosure, ask the tough questions and require onsite testing. And if a vendor says “no” to any of your demands simply tell them “when the phone doesn’t ring, you’ll know it’s me”.

Thank you and have a nice day.

- First Liberated