FirstSQL, Inc., a provider of 100% Java Object-relational SQL database systems, today announced the availability of FirstSQL/J Enterprise Server version 2.60.
This latest release enhances support for J2EE (Java 2, Enterprise Edition) standards, making it easier for customers to develop and deploy J2EE applications using FirstSQL/J Enterprise Server with J2EE application servers.
FirstSQL/J Enterprise Server adds support for J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) v1.0 & v1.5, connection pooling, and Java Transaction APIs (JTA) for distributed transaction (XA) capabilities.
FirstSQL/J Enterprise Server is focused on the market for Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) applications that use complex Java object models and the relational database model together to address business needs. FirstSQL/J provides a sophisticated relational database with advanced SQL functionality for manipulating serialized Java objects and their methods. Java object persistence is provided internally without the complexity and need for external O/R mapping tools.
JCA provides a solution to the problem of connectivity between JCA compliant application servers and EISs already in existence. The use of the JCA standard decreases the need for programming by creating standardized, reusable components such as Enterprise Java beans (EJB) 2.0 Container Manager Persistence (CMP). Application server vendors who conform to the J2EE Connector architecture do not need to add custom code whenever they want to add connectivity to a new EIS.
FirstSQL/J Enterprise Client implements a Resource Adapter for JCA. JCA provides for both connection pooling and XA transactions. The FirstSQL/J Resource Adapter supports JDBC connections. The Resource Adapter implementation, associated classes, configuration XML and documentation are packaged in a standard JCA deployment file that is available for JBoss today.
FirstSQL/J’s Distributed Transactions (XA) uses standard JTA controls. XA capabilities are available through JDBC 2 Standard Extension Data Source Facility and through JDBC 3 JCA. J2EE Data Source capabilities have been extended with additional facilities for JDBC 2 Standard Edition Data Source to include Connection Pooling and XA Processing.
Additional features in v2.60 include a new Build API, Arbiter API, and RemoteLogger facility. The Build API allows a database to be created from within application code. The Arbiter API provides full application control of failover to Standby replication servers in a daisy-chained configuration. The RemoteLogger is a log management tool to manage and store server logs remotely or locally with configurable file size, number of backup files, and file location.
Visit the FirstSQL home page: www.firstsql.com
Read the press release
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FirstSQL/J Enterprise Server v2.60 Supports JCA, XA/JTA (33 messages)
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 13 2003 15:13 EDT
Threaded Messages (33)
- Hmm by Martin N. on October 15 2003 17:17 EDT
- Hmm by Dave Morse on October 15 2003 18:21 EDT
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why the attitude? by red red on October 16 2003 03:39 EDT
- why the attitude? by Dave Morse on October 16 2003 10:08 EDT
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why the attitude? by red red on October 16 2003 03:39 EDT
- Hmm by Fredrik ?lund on October 15 2003 18:37 EDT
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Hmm by Sandeep Dath on October 15 2003 06:43 EDT
- Hmm by Sandeep Dath on October 15 2003 06:54 EDT
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Hmm by Sandeep Dath on October 15 2003 06:43 EDT
- Execute java code in the database engine by Sam Man on October 15 2003 23:09 EDT
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Unicode support by Christian Meunier on October 16 2003 03:36 EDT
- Unicode support by Lee Fesperman on October 17 2003 03:13 EDT
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How much cache can FirstSQL handle? by Horia Muntean on October 16 2003 03:37 EDT
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Re: More than 2GB memory in Java by christophe hartwig on October 16 2003 03:54 EDT
- Re: More than 2GB memory in Java by Horia Muntean on October 16 2003 04:36 EDT
- Re: More than 2GB memory in Java by Mike Spille on October 16 2003 09:02 EDT
- Use a 64 bit OS by Sam Man on October 16 2003 03:53 EDT
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How much cache can FirstSQL handle? by Lee Fesperman on October 17 2003 04:11 EDT
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How much cache can FirstSQL handle? by Horia Muntean on October 17 2003 04:49 EDT
- How much cache can FirstSQL handle? by Dave Morse on October 18 2003 09:24 EDT
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How much cache can FirstSQL handle? by Horia Muntean on October 17 2003 04:49 EDT
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Re: More than 2GB memory in Java by christophe hartwig on October 16 2003 03:54 EDT
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Unicode support by Christian Meunier on October 16 2003 03:36 EDT
- FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Tarlika Elisabeth Schmitz on October 16 2003 07:31 EDT
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FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Juozas Baliuka on October 16 2003 09:40 EDT
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FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Bob Milstead on October 16 2003 10:32 EDT
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FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Juozas Baliuka on October 17 2003 02:33 EDT
- Native Java Objects in database by Sam Man on October 17 2003 12:49 EDT
- FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Lee Fesperman on October 17 2003 03:57 EDT
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FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Juozas Baliuka on October 17 2003 02:33 EDT
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FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Dave Morse on October 16 2003 10:44 EDT
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Easysoft ODBC-JDBC Gateway to FirstSQL/J? by Richard Katz on October 17 2003 04:11 EDT
- Easysoft ODBC-JDBC Gateway to FirstSQL/J? by Dave Morse on October 18 2003 09:17 EDT
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Easysoft ODBC-JDBC Gateway to FirstSQL/J? by Richard Katz on October 17 2003 04:11 EDT
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FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Bob Milstead on October 16 2003 10:32 EDT
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FirstSQL - robust and feature rich by Juozas Baliuka on October 16 2003 09:40 EDT
- outstanding support by Tarlika Elisabeth Schmitz on October 16 2003 11:22 EDT
- Hmm by Dave Morse on October 15 2003 18:21 EDT
- For Desktop Apps!!! by Jay K on October 15 2003 17:47 EDT
- For Desktop Apps!!! by Dave Morse on October 15 2003 18:36 EDT
- For Desktop Apps!!! by Sandeep Dath on October 15 2003 06:43 EDT
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For Desktop Apps!!! by Jay K on October 15 2003 09:05 EDT
- For Desktop Apps!!! by Dave Morse on October 16 2003 10:20 EDT
- For Desktop Apps!!! by Dave Morse on October 15 2003 18:36 EDT
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Hmm[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Martin N.
- Posted on: October 15 2003 17:17 EDT
- in response to Dave Morse
Ok, so how is this better than, let's say, using MySQL+Hibernate? -
Hmm[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 15 2003 18:21 EDT
- in response to Martin N.
Ok, so how is this better than, let's say, using MySQL+Hibernate?
OK, so you don't have time to look into it - fine. I'll start at the basic technical level; FirstSQL is an SQL92 Intermediate level RDBMS - MySQL does not come close in SQL or relational support. FirstSQL was written from the start in Java for scalability and transaction processing with an optimized query engine with both disk and In-memory mode of operation. MySQL is slow, FirstSQL always tests faster. MySQL doesn't really compare to FirstSQL at any level on the technical side - but then it isn't designed to be very sophisticated - is it? It is a commodity dbms written in C.
As for objects in the database - we believe a database vendor knows how to handle and map objects better (and seamlessly) then any 3rd party tool.
You can save the learning and complexity of JDO, O/R mapping tools like Hibernate, and their object query methodologies for MySQL and other databases - native Java object persistence, including methods, is provided with the innovative and intuitive CREATE CLASS DDL command. Java objects are based on unmodified Java classes - and manipulated with standard SQL (no need to learn some new inadequate syntax). Java database objects enhance the power of SQL, allowing their methods to be called in standard SQL from the client and executed on the server.
FirstSQL/J supports a rich set of SQL data types plus the ability to use Java objects in database columns. Java types are mapped with database types internally. This provides maximum developer productivity. I think the productivity gains, while certainly only one of dozens advantages, may be the most important reason why FirstSQL is better then MySQL and Hibernate.
Dave M. -
why the attitude?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: red red
- Posted on: October 16 2003 03:39 EDT
- in response to Dave Morse
"OK, so you don't have time to look into it - fine. "
Does everyone have to completely research any topic they might have a slight interest in? While I applaud you for giving an answer, the bad attitude is unnecessary.
Numerous times I have searched newsgroups for answers only to see responses to posts with do a search, this has been discussed many times. I wish those people would ignore the post, copy the answer into the reply, or copy the link to the answer.
The RTFM disease in the computer industry needs to be cured. -
why the attitude?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 16 2003 10:08 EDT
- in response to red red
I agree with your good points. I didn't mean to seem like I was copping an attitude. It was an honest Q and I tried to give an honest A. -
Hmm[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Fredrik ?lund
- Posted on: October 15 2003 18:37 EDT
- in response to Martin N.
Ok, so how is this better than, let's say, using MySQL+Hibernate?
How do you make a distributed transaction in MySQL? -
Hmm[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sandeep Dath
- Posted on: October 15 2003 18:43 EDT
- in response to Fredrik ?lund
Ok, so how is this better than, let's say, using MySQL+Hibernate?
> How do you make a distributed transaction in MySQL?
How do you make a distributed transaction in any database?
Sandeep. -
Hmm[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sandeep Dath
- Posted on: October 15 2003 18:54 EDT
- in response to Sandeep Dath
How do you make a distributed transaction in any database?
This was a weak joke on the "make" part. Ignore it. Guess I need to punch out for the day.
Sandeep. -
Execute java code in the database engine[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sam Man
- Posted on: October 15 2003 23:09 EDT
- in response to Martin N.
For starters, you can execute object methods in the database. -
Unicode support[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Christian Meunier
- Posted on: October 16 2003 03:36 EDT
- in response to Sam Man
Does this new version fully support unicode ? That was my biggest concern about your product. -
Unicode support[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Lee Fesperman
- Posted on: October 17 2003 15:13 EDT
- in response to Christian Meunier
FirstSQL supports UNICODE through its Database Objects capability. It includes an implementation of java.sql.Clob for UNICODE storage. Clob is fully integrated with the JDBC driver (works with getClob, setClob, getString, setString, etc.). It also supports java.sql.Blob. -
How much cache can FirstSQL handle?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Horia Muntean
- Posted on: October 16 2003 03:37 EDT
- in response to Sam Man
Well, given the fact that on some platforms, a single JVM can handle up to 2GB of heap, how do you swap between a DB2 and FirstSQL on a 8GB RAM pSeries? Can I distribute my tables on different devices in order to feed my 4 processors?
Are there any cache management flexible policies? How about replication between 2 FirstSQL DBs?
Regards,
Horia -
Re: More than 2GB memory in Java[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: christophe hartwig
- Posted on: October 16 2003 03:54 EDT
- in response to Horia Muntean
Hi !
If I were to handle more than 2GB memory, I would use jdk 1.4 NIO mmap'ed files...
This allows you to use out-of-heap memory... good to know...
If I were to write a DB in Java, I guess I would use mmap'ed files anyway :-)
But I don't know if FirstSQL uses NIO, nor if it can handle more than 2GB memory.
Bye
Chris -
Re: More than 2GB memory in Java[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Horia Muntean
- Posted on: October 16 2003 04:36 EDT
- in response to christophe hartwig
Ups, no more GC?
Business objects would have to be serialized/deserialized into/out of the off-heap buffer right? I think there will be a performance penalty.
But after all you are right. This is a solution.
Regards,
Horia -
Re: More than 2GB memory in Java[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Mike Spille
- Posted on: October 16 2003 09:02 EDT
- in response to christophe hartwig
Memory mapping files under the current 1.4 JDKs is pretty slow. I've done tests with this vs. regular channels and direct buffers, and the latter was significantly faster.
On top of this, there's no way to release mmap'd memory in your Java process. If you're working with many files it's quite easy to zoom your memory use into the stratosphere.
-Mike -
Use a 64 bit OS[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sam Man
- Posted on: October 16 2003 15:53 EDT
- in response to Horia Muntean
Use a 64 bit OS to take full advantage of large memory with FirstSQL/J and Java. -
How much cache can FirstSQL handle?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Lee Fesperman
- Posted on: October 17 2003 16:11 EDT
- in response to Horia Muntean
FirstSQL is limited to the heap size supported by the JVM for cache memory, but this does not limit the actual table sizes except in memory mode. JVMs on 64-bit CPUs can normally handle heaps larger than 2GB.
FirstSQL provides full replication and fail-over capabilities. -
How much cache can FirstSQL handle?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Horia Muntean
- Posted on: October 17 2003 16:49 EDT
- in response to Lee Fesperman
FirstSQL is limited to the heap size supported by the JVM for cache memory, but this does not limit the actual table sizes except in memory mode. JVMs on 64-bit CPUs can normally handle heaps larger than 2GB.
>
Fair enough. I was questioning the heap memory model used in JVM and how appropiate it is to use a DB implemented in java in some apps. Probably only few apps require such big caches.
> FirstSQL provides full replication and fail-over capabilities.
Regarding replication capabilities, at first hand reading, I understand that a FirstSQL replica can't operate "online", but as a stand by incarnation of a master DB. In "some" scenarios, one needs the master DB to handle high OLTP hits (custom indexes and all) and one (or more) asynchronous replicas to take care of (with some delay) ad hoc and "breath taking" queries .
Regards,
Horia -
How much cache can FirstSQL handle?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 18 2003 09:24 EDT
- in response to Horia Muntean
The standby(s) is a replica that can switch to read/write but until it does (upon failure/shutdown of the master) is available in read-only mode. It could only receive updates from the master to stay in sync with it. -
FirstSQL - robust and feature rich[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Tarlika Elisabeth Schmitz
- Posted on: October 16 2003 07:31 EDT
- in response to Martin N.
Most importantly, FirstSQL/J is renowned for its robustness! The product comes with various tools for backup, replication and fault recovery, which can be called from the command line or via a graphical user interface.
Not only does FirstSQL/J support conventional backup and recovery via a snapshot and roll forward process but it also supports replication capabilities which automatically write all committed changes to a second server. A standby server supports live recovery from failure of the primary server. When a standby server detects the primary server has failed, it automatically switches to active mode, and clients can reconnect to it to continue processing.
Another most interesting feature is the implementation of a recursive query which traverses a tree structure. To my knowledge, the only other database that offers this feature is Oracle. This way you can represent a hierarchical structure with one table and produce a flat result set with a single SELECT statement.
Best regards,
Elisabeth -
FirstSQL - robust and feature rich[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Juozas Baliuka
- Posted on: October 16 2003 09:40 EDT
- in response to Tarlika Elisabeth Schmitz
Another most interesting feature is the implementation of a recursive query which traverses a tree structure. To my knowledge, the only other database that offers this feature is Oracle. This way you can represent a hierarchical structure with one table and produce a flat result set with a single SELECT statement.
>
Looks like there is a standard SQL feature, inline views and "WITH" statement can do the same. But I see FirstSQL is very feature rich and I am going to try it.
BTW Can I find ODBC driver and DBI interface for FirstSQL ? Do I need connectivity bridges/workarounds for native applications and scripts ? -
FirstSQL - robust and feature rich[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Bob Milstead
- Posted on: October 16 2003 10:32 EDT
- in response to Juozas Baliuka
As a user of FirstSQL the features I appreciate the most are:
1. The ability to store and retreive a complete object graph. This is an enormous time saving over persistence strategies that require you to take apart and reassemble objects.
2. Support for standard JDBC syntax, so one database provides the ability to store objects but also address all your other data storage needs too.
3. The ability to embed the database in your application or run it as a stand alone server, as your requirements dictate.
Another interesting feature (that I admittedly have not used yet) is the ability to invoke methods on stored objects from within the sql query.
Also, I must mention that the support assistence from FirstSQL has been above and beyond the call. -
FirstSQL - robust and feature rich[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Juozas Baliuka
- Posted on: October 17 2003 02:33 EDT
- in response to Bob Milstead
As a user of FirstSQL the features I appreciate the most are:
> 1. The ability to store and retreive a complete object graph. This is an enormous time saving over persistence strategies that require you to take apart and reassemble objects.
>
Doe's it transforms objects to tuples ?
Is it possible to use this data without JAVA on client ?
It is not any kind of RDMS feature and it breaks data if objects are serialized to "JAVA blobs". -
Native Java Objects in database[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sam Man
- Posted on: October 17 2003 12:49 EDT
- in response to Juozas Baliuka
Objects are not broken, they are stored as native Java objects. It is possible to annotate objects with Interface and inherited class names. -
FirstSQL - robust and feature rich[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Lee Fesperman
- Posted on: October 17 2003 15:57 EDT
- in response to Juozas Baliuka
Doe's it transforms objects to tuples ?
> Is it possible to use this data without JAVA on client ?
> It is not any kind of RDMS feature and it breaks data if objects are serialized to "JAVA blobs".
FirstSQL does not break objects into tuples. It stores objects as column values in rows (tuples). Using the objects does require Java on the client.
Unlike RDBMSs that just store objects as opaque Blobs, FirstSQL allows the objects to be used in SQL -- creating the objects, calling their methods, updating changed objects. -
FirstSQL - robust and feature rich[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 16 2003 10:44 EDT
- in response to Juozas Baliuka
Hi,
Beyond the jdbc/odbc bridge provided by Sun there really isn't much for going the other way. There are a couple companies that provide these tools (try google).
An odbc driver or odbc/jdbc bridge for FirstSQL would be nice and is an important but there just hasn't been enough demand. -
Easysoft ODBC-JDBC Gateway to FirstSQL/J?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Richard Katz
- Posted on: October 17 2003 16:11 EDT
- in response to Dave Morse
Hi Dave!
"An odbc driver or odbc/jdbc bridge for FirstSQL would be nice and is an important but there just hasn't been enough demand."
http://www.easysoft.com/products/2023/main.phtml
EasySoft says: "The Easysoft ODBC-JDBC Gateway is the simple solution to this problem: a fully functional ODBC 3.5 driver which allows you to access any JDBC data source from any Windows ODBC application."
Apparently, it works with quite a few drivers. There are a list of ODBC capabilities supported and not supported here:
http://www.easysoft.com/products/2023/tech_features.phtml
Have you tried this? EastSoft of course also a vendor for an ODBC driver that runs with FirstSQL (not FirstSQL/J).
gardz,
Rich
www.javaskyline.com/database.html -
Easysoft ODBC-JDBC Gateway to FirstSQL/J?[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 18 2003 09:17 EDT
- in response to Richard Katz
Thanks! - been looking for something like this. There must be many people interested in it then we know about.
Dave M. -
outstanding support[ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Tarlika Elisabeth Schmitz
- Posted on: October 16 2003 11:22 EDT
- in response to Martin N.
Not only does FirstSQL sell at a very reasonable price - their support is simply OUTSTANDING.
Regards,
T. Elisabeth -
For Desktop Apps!!![ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Jay K
- Posted on: October 15 2003 17:47 EDT
- in response to Dave Morse
This looks good for Java Desktop applications. I think this will be a good competitor for VB/Access duo. Java AWT/SWING/SWT + First SQL.
For ServerSide, I wonder how scalable it is. They really need to do some performance benchmarks against existing RDBMS databases like Oracle, db2.
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http://JavaRSS.com
Just one bookmark - for all java related news, articles and blogs.
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For Desktop Apps!!![ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 15 2003 18:36 EDT
- in response to Jay K
FirstSQL is built for scalability and scales very well on ITanium2, IBM iSeries, and Sun Solaris 64-bit. We don't have experience at the Desktop level, much less with VB or Access - Our users are only replacing Oracle with FirstSQL on large server platforms.
Oh - But because we haven't released any benchmarks for server platforms and you are a VB/Access Desktop App expert you must be right. -
For Desktop Apps!!![ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Sandeep Dath
- Posted on: October 15 2003 18:43 EDT
- in response to Dave Morse
Dave,
What is this?
"FirstSQL/J ProLite - FREE version of Professional - ProLite version 1.1mb .jar file with documentation."
Is there a feature comparison?
Sandeep -
For Desktop Apps!!![ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Jay K
- Posted on: October 15 2003 21:05 EDT
- in response to Dave Morse
No hard feelings about your product. I just meant that a product like this on desktop will help Java grow more on the desktop too. Sun's hope for 10 million developers includes luring VB developers to Java.
Good to hear that your product is being used to replace Oracle.
F.Y.I: I have been with Java since JDK 1.0 and been working on J2EE for the past 4 years.
-----------------------------------------
http://JavaRSS.com
Just one bookmark - for all java related news, articles and blogs.
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For Desktop Apps!!![ Go to top ]
- Posted by: Dave Morse
- Posted on: October 16 2003 10:20 EDT
- in response to Jay K
Thanks, I was taking it a little as a slam. Good point on the position of Sun and the huge VB/Access developer market. I will say that Sun doesn't seem to be 100% behind Java at least when it comes to "Java databases". Berkely DB is a C database that seems to be one of their standards for use in internal projects. I know why, but it is counter intuitive to their push to increase Java penetration.