Combines DataStage, QualityStage, and Federation Server products among others, using a shared metadata platform. Integrates the Information Analyzer and QualityStage applications for data profiling and cleansing. Employs Metadata Server and Transformation Extender (formerly called DataStage TX) tools for heavy transformation requirements. IBM Information Server provides functionality that supports modeling and metadata management. It delivers the metadata foundation for IBM Information Server components via Metadata Server. IBM also intends to bridge Information Server capabilities with IBM’s metadata, master data, content, and other information management solutions. However, due to the complexity of the multiple products included with IBM Information Server, IBM has struggled to provide a consistent message about its data integration tools to prospective customers. In addition, IBM Information Server requires the use of a proprietary language for development. Using this specialized language often entails the additional costs associated with training, ramp up, and adoption. In particular, there is considerable lack of professional resources having the expertise to support this proprietary language compared to the number of software engineers competent in SQL Server 2008 and SSIS. Using a proprietary language also can have a limiting effect on product adoption and product support, and slow development efforts. Another disadvantage of this proprietary language is that it is not very easy to extend. Moreover, professional support and high-level expertise for IBM Information Server is significantly less than that available for SQL Server. Using IBM Information Server may require the support of external consultants who are unfamiliar with your business—an option that is often cost-prohibitive for small and medium size customers. Informatica PowerCenter Informatica Corporation’s PowerCenter product provides data integration and data quality software and services. Informatica is primarily used by enterprises. Informatica has only recently shifted its focus to data integration. Informatica is using its platform and application neutrality to generate interest for partners and customers having small architectural footprints. Informatica is a “pure-play” data integration provider, which differentiates it from other competitors such as IBM and Oracle. The Informatica PowerCenter is a unified enterprise-wide data integration platform for accessing, discovering, and integrating data from business systems. For more information, see the Informatica PowerCenter Web site: PowerCenter features include:
data integration tools. Each of these products uses its own metadata to contribute to the manual portion of the metadata management environment. OWB offers only limited support for operational data integration techniques such as Enterprise Information Integration (EII) and CDC. Starting with Oracle 10g, Oracle DBMS licenses include a very basic version of OWB. Customers must purchase additional add-ons for advanced ETL functionality such as heterogeneous data sources, performance and scalability, impact analysis and lineage reporting, data profiling, and enterprise application gateway. Oracle Data Integrator (Formerly Sunopsis) Oracle Data Integrator (ODI) (based on the acquired Sunopsis Data Conductor) provides heterogeneous connectivity in the data management layer of Oracle’s Fusion Middleware. For more information about Oracle Data Integrator, see the following information on the Oracle Web site: ODI E-LT (extract, load, and then transform) architecture uses disparate RDBMS engines to process and transform the data, which eliminates the need for an ETL transformation server. The drawback is that ODI E-LT requires additional processing power from either the source or target system. In this case, the existing systems need significant CPU and memory cycles to perform the transformation processes. Few production systems have this kind of flexibility. ODI provides an integration platform for IT infrastructure that supports SOA, business intelligence, and master data management. ODI is a comprehensive data integration platform that covers data integration requirements, including high-volume, high-performance batches, event-driven “trickle-feed” integration processes, and SOA-enabled data services. ODI supports multiple data sources connecting to multiple targets. However, ODI integration with Oracle Database technology is very limited, and there is an additional licensing cost to implement ODI. ODI is generally only suitable for organizations that have ongoing needs for productivity gains. ODI is also not recommended for one-time migration projects. In addition, there is a shortage of experienced ODI consultants compared to the number of software engineers who are competent in SQL Server 2008 and SSIS. Professional support and high-level expertise with ODI is also lacking. Using ODI may require the support of external consultants who are unfamiliar with your business—an option that is often cost-prohibitive for small and medium size customers.