UniVerse®

An extended relational data server designed for embedding in a variety of solutions. UniVerse offers configurable internationalisation capabilities, high-end security and encryption features, standards-based interfaces with Web services support, and high-availability options used as part of a variety of top-shelf solutions. UniVerse is a mainstay in a variety of industry solutions such as automotive, banking, ERP, and insurance.

IBM UniVerse® is an extended relational data server optimised for embedding in vertical applications. This nested relational (MultiValue) data model means intuitive data modeling and fewer resulting tables.

Delivers data access, storage and management capabilities across Microsoft® Windows NT®, Linux® and UNIX® platforms.

Includes UniVerse BASIC - a unique application development environment, which enables developers to create powerful, transaction-intensive applications.

Scales from the smallest workgroup to thousands of concurrent users when using symmetric multiprocessor (SMP)-based hardware.

Provides automatic and dynamic tablespace allocation to fit the size of the data server - providing optimum performance and minimising disk usage for maximum efficiency.

Device Licensing for Server Edition - available as an add-on component for UniVerse Server Edition - enables multiple connections from the same IP address. This feature can be configured for as many connections per device as are needed, up to a total of 10.

Features and Benefits

Highlights

IBM UniVerse® is an extended relational (MultiValue™) data server optimised for embedding in superior solutions and is ideal for markets which target small to medium businesses, as well as larger enterprises.

• Robust high-availability capabilities including point-in-time recovery and the ability to recover a single record from a specified file
• Efficient encryption of data at rest with flexible encryption key management
• Enhanced licensing and authorisation process offers streamlined configuration while protecting licensed assets
• Highly scalable, low-cost data management system with many innovative features
• Support for Web services client protocols including XML and SOAP
• New U2 Web Services Development tool with a configurable SOAP server to quickly create and deploy Web services from BASIC subroutines and UniVerse queries via the industry-standard Web Services Description Language (WSDL)
• Includes UniObjects for .NET -- a native, scalable, high performance API for developing in the Microsoft .NET framework
• Robust features for high availability, failover and data replication available
• IBM WebSphere MQ support
• National Language Support (NLS) using Unicode standard
• Transaction management with support for nested transactions
• Broad support for open standards-based SQL interfaces such as JDBC, OLEDB and ODBC

Benefits

• MultiValue architecture requires fewer tables whose sizes are dynamically managed by the data server. UniVerse sites require less data server administration with smaller sites having little to no resources allocated.
• Shortened development cycles are possible due to ease of data server design along with a tightly integrated development environment.
• UniVerse supports a broad range of information management applications with excellent performance and reliability. As a result, a large number of industry solution providers use UniVerse to develop and support their applications. This allows the client to more quickly satisfy their requirements by buying, rather than building, solutions.

Features

• Connection Pooling (CP) enables developers to design and deploy applications that do not use persistent connections to the data server, such as in a Web environment. Connection Pools are authorised separately and do not consume data server licenses.
• UV/Net offers local access to data on remote UniVerse servers.
• Transaction Logging provides warm-start recoverability in case of system or media failures.
• Data Replication provides an automatic and reliable way to deliver read-only copies of UniVerse files to other UniVerse systems.
• Automatic Data Encryption offers a powerful yet simple means of protecting sensitive data with little or no application changes. Data can be encrypted at the column (field) level or encrypting entire records, while access is granted at the user or group level for role-based security.
• Device Licensing for Server Edition offers the ability to customise the number of connections per device such as a user's PC. This provides greater flexibility when fewer than 10 connections per device are required and the additional value of Enterprise Edition is not an alternative.

UniVerse 10.2

IBM UniVerse® 10.2 — generally available 29 September 2006 — protects personal data, supports U2 Web Services, strengthens and streamlines high availability, and more!

Click on one of the topics below to learn more about important new features and improvements available with UniVerse 10.2

Highlights

• Adds support for U2 Web Services
• Delivers encryption of data at rest
• Improves high availability functionality and performance
• Offers device licensing for Server Edition

Greater Interoperability

UniVerse 10.2 introduces a new graphical tool for Web Services development. The U2 Web Services Development Tool for UniData® and UniVerse (U2WSD) allows developers to create Web Services quickly from existing subroutines as well as from queries. This enables disparate organisations to communicate with one another using a worldwide standard. Businesses embracing Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) with U2-based applications can provide information as a service using U2WSD.

UniVerse 10.2 introduces new XML classes for UniObjects for .NET and UniObjects for Java. These new classes allow developers to expand client-server and Web application capabilities by utilising the extensive XML support available in UniVerse. As XML becomes the standard for corporate communications both internally and externally, the XML classes for UniObjects for Java and UniObjects for .NET can help provide businesses the edge necessary to excel in the marketplace.

UniVerse 10.2 extends the database connectivity options with the addition of Connection Pooling for UniObjects for .NET and UniObjects for Java™. This optional feature permits Web applications to connect to UniVerse using a separate pool of licenses. UniVerse 10.2 supports load balancing and monitoring capabilities, combining ease of administration with high-speed communications.

Advanced Security Options

UniVerse 10.2 automates encryption of data at rest, protecting important information and meeting government standards. This advanced technology utilises today's modern cryptology techniques to secure data at rest with little to zero changes to applications. Utilising a new graphical interface, administrators can create the security rules needed for their organisation, thus protecting sensitive information at the field or record level.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) support for UniVerse Windows® Clients extends the ability to create secure communication channels using encryption and end-point authentication to this protocol via UniObjects, UniOLEDB, ODBC, InterCall, and the UniCall Interface (UCI). With the ever increasing demand to secure data transmissions across wide area networks as well as local intranets, U2 SSL provides organisation with the tools necessary to safely deliver data between two endpoints.

A new graphical tool, the U2 SSL Configuration Editor, is provided to simplify the management of SSL property lists, which contain such information as certificates, private keys, certificate revocation lists, and more.

Robust High Availability Options:

UniVerse 10.2 delivers additional capabilities and the ultimate in reliability when using the enhanced Transaction Logging feature. With the new point-in-time recovery ability, systems can be recovered from and to any point in time, such as when it is required to restore a system to a point immediately before a particular transaction occurred.

Additional enhancements provide businesses with the peace of mind that data will be protected and available. File level operations are logged and can be replayed on a second host to ensure the database remains completely in synch. System downtime is reduced since these operations will be executed automatically when the database is restored either locally on the same system or remotely on a disaster recovery server.

UniVerse 10.2 introduces a new replication protocol to ensure log files transmission is acknowledged to support automatic recovery should there be a network outage.

Improved Performance

For release 10.2, UniVerse Data Replication improves the transfer speed of replication of data between two UniVerse data servers. The improved subscriber update speed provides near real-time availability of replicated data.

Improved Licencing and Authorisation

For the first time, IBM UniVerse offers device licensing for Server Edition. This optional feature allows businesses to add up to 10 additional connections per user session, thus expanding user productivity.

UniVerse 10.2 includes a new license configuration and authorisation process designed to offer ease of use and additional flexibility after installation. Administrators may choose to configure add-on components such as Connection Pooling at any time, including during the initial setup or upgrade of UniVerse. A 60-day evaluation period gives administrators time to obtain an authorisation key with minimal downtime. An additional benefit is the improvement of asset management.

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