Sybase Ramps Up Linux Effort With Express DatabaseSybase Ramps Up Linux Effort With Express Database

Sybase is now offering an Express version of its Adaptive Server Enterprise database for Linux.

This version offers the core ASE version 12.5.2 database engine but is limited for use on single-processor machines with up to 2 Gbytes of memory and 5 Gbytes of hard disk space, a spokeswoman said.

The company says its free database offers more robust features and functions than other Linux databases such as the popular PostgreSQL and MySQL.

Sybase ASE Express Edition--certified to run on Red Hat, Red Flag, Suse, and Turbo Linux distributions--is a free download with support and service contracts starting at $2,200 per year.

Sybase, once a big power in client/server databases, has seen its market share eroded in recent years by former partner Microsoft's SQL Server and other offerings, observers say. But Sybase, Dublin, Calif., retains a core customer base in financial services. The company in recent years has tried to reposition itself as much more than a database company, building up its tools and mobile business. It is a leader in small, embeddable databases with its iAnywhere lineup.

Last spring, it added to its mobile expertise with the acquisition of XCelleNet for $95 million.

In other database news, MySQL, a favorite of the open-source crowd, said Tuesday it is teaming with Embarcadero Technologies on life-cycle management solutions to ease migration to MySQL and optimization of MySQL in customer accounts. The two companies will jointly sell and market the tools, according to MySQL, San Francisco.