The high-end Database Server offering from Sybase is Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, or ASE. ASE is available for multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and UNIX.

ASE offers many features of key interest to Web developers and application providers. Among those most highly touted by Sybase are support for XML queries and the execution of embedded Java components.

Sybase states that custom code is not required to process XML documents within ASE. Rather, the embedded XML Query engine can parse XML data from multiple sources (including flat files and URLs) and store the results as an accessible in-memory structure for further processing. Such storage allows for the building of queries that seek data based on specific XML tags.

Java developers will note several enhancements in ASE targeted to their language; more specifically, allowing the execution of Java code directly from within the DB server itself. EJB Components can be deployed and run within the DB server, with an internal JDBC driver facilitating direct Java-SQL engine communication when necessary. Stored procedures can be written in Java alone or a combination of Java and SQL; and object oriented Java techniques can be utilized in the DB via ASE's support of SQLJ Part 1. For example, a table field could be defined as a Java class; which itself could include the necessary logic for obtaining and validating multiple individual fields. Such a field could then be extended to allow for the definition of specific sub-field types based on that primary field.

ASE is not without features of interest for DBAs and administrators, however. Locking options can be specified by Page, Table, or Row; the ASE Replicator provides a simplified method of maintaining a replicated database (Sybase offers the separate and more extensive Replication Server for extended replication tasks); and separate physical tables can be merged into a single table view.

New in the latest ASE release (15) is encryption technology that allows for the protection of data when in transit, when stored, and when accessed. Other new features include "smart partitions," which increase query performance by allowing for the targeting of just the information required; new query processing technology that--according to the vendor--increases performance and reduces hardware resource consumption; and extended services for directly accessing unstructured data in operating system files bundled with the core server (such functionality was previously sold separately).

Sybase ASE is available now. ASE 15 editions range from a free Express Edition to the Enterprise Family of products; the Express Edition is available for Linux and supports up to 5GB of data supported by 2GB of memory and 1CPU. The Small Business Edition starts at $1,495.

Visit the Sybase Web site for further information.