Sybase and Red Hat Announce Plans for Expanded Alliance to Unlock Customer Value

Sybase First to Announce Plans to Deliver a Database Appliance that Supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 with Virtualisation

RALEIGH, N.C -

Sybase, Inc. (NYSE: SY), a leading provider of enterprise infrastructure and mobile software, and Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the worlds leading provider of open source solutions, today announced plans for an expanded partnership which will include the delivery of a database appliance based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 with integrated virtualisation. This pairing will unlock customer value by leveraging Red Hat virtualised infrastructure and Sybase’s continuing data management leadership. This marks the first time an enterprise data management company has announced plans for a Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 database appliance.


Integrated virtualisation will enable the flexibility of on-demand resource management, and provide a substantial increase in the performance of database systems. Sybase’s enterprise-class database, Sybase® Adaptive Server® Enterprise (ASE), will seamlessly leverage on-line migration and high availability capabilities when running on the Red Hat Advanced Platform.


In addition, the two companies are announcing plans for Sybase to become a member of the Red Hat Cooperative Resolution Center, which will enable mutual customers of Red Hat and Sybase to call either company and be assured that the two will work closely together to resolve concerns. Additionally, Sybase’s membership in the Red Hat Cooperative Resolution Center will allow the parties to have joint labs, end-to-end testing, cross support training and defined escalation procedures.


“Sybase and Red Hat have many joint customers and a long history of teaming to provide industry-leading solutions”, said Tim Yeaton, senior vice president of Enterprise Solutions at Red Hat. “With clustering and integrated virtualisation in the Red Hat Advanced Platform unlocking incredible cost savings for enterprise infrastructures, the pairing of Sybase ASE as an appliance solution is natural.”


“The expanded partnership will give our mutual customers the financial agility and productivity edge across their enterprise”, said Dr. Raj Nathan, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Sybase. “Sybase ASE 15’s attractive price, performance and innovative technology, combined with Red Hat’s market leadership in enterprise Linux distribution, enable enterprises to manage and mobilise their data at a fraction of the cost.”


Industry analysts recognise the business benefits of this mutual partnership. “Sybase ASE together with Linux provides the most cost effective solution, 15 percent to 37 percent less than alternative solutions”, said Jim Johnson, founder and chairman, the Standish Group. “We believe the support of Red Hat Enterprise Linux with virtualisation will enable Sybase and Red Hat to provide the most cost effective solution.”


“Both Red Hat Linux and Sybase database solutions are optimised to take advantage of Intel processor technologies such as Intel® Virtualisation Technology and our enhanced performance and energy efficient Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processors”, said Doug Fisher, Intel Vice President and General Manager, System Software Division. “The integrated Red Hat-Sybase database appliance solution on Intel-based servers will drive increased value to all of our enterprise customers.”


Highlights of the expanded partnership will include:


* Collaborating to optimise and deliver Sybase data management products on Red Hat Advanced Platform, with its integrated server, storage and network virtualisation and management
* Seamless customer support through Red Hat’s Cooperative Resolution Center
* Enabling on-line migration and high availability capabilities for low cost, high performing data management solutions
* Sybase ASE certified on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 with virtualisation, planned availability in the second half of 2007; Sybase IQ analytics server on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, planned availability in the second half of 2007
* A database appliance certified on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 with virtualisation, planned availability in the second half of 2007, eliminating the need for separate OS and database patches, with lower installation, configuration and maintenance costs


About Red Hat, Inc.


Red Hat, the worlds leading open source solutions provider, is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. with over 50 satellite offices spanning the globe. CIOs have ranked Red Hat first for value in Enterprise Software for three consecutive years in the CIO Insight Magazine Vendor Value study. Red Hat provides high-quality, low-cost technology with its operating system platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, together with applications, management and Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) solutions, including the JBoss Enterprise Middleware Suite. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com.


About Sybase, Inc.


Sybase is the largest global enterprise software company exclusively focused on managing and mobilising information from the data center to the point of action. Sybase provides open, cross-platform solutions that securely deliver information anytime, anywhere, enabling customers and partners to create an information edge. The worlds most critical data in commerce, communications, finance, government and healthcare runs on Sybase. For more information, visit the Sybase Web site: http://www.sybase.com.


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Sybase and Adaptive Server Enterprise are registered trademarks of Sybase, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.


Special Note: Statements concerning Sybase’s future growth, prospects and new product releases are, by nature, forward-looking statements that involve a number of uncertainties and risks, and cannot be guaranteed. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “will” and similar expressions relating to Sybase and its management may identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are intended to reflect Sybase’s current views with respect to future events and may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially include shifts in customer demand, rapid technology changes, competitive factors and unanticipated delays in scheduled product availability. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Sybase’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (copies of which can be viewed on Sybase’s Web site).

  • About Red Hat
  • Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com.



  • Forward-Looking Statements
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