Sybase IQ

Sybase IQ is a highly optimized database engine for business intelligence, developed by the company Sybase, now called SAP Sybase IQ due to SAP's acquisition of Sybase.

Specifically designed to deliver faster results in mission-critical analytical business intelligence solutions, data warehousing, and reporting, Sybase IQ combines speed and agility with a low total cost of ownership, enabling companies to conduct data analysis and reporting that was previously unthinkable, impractical, or expensive. The latest version of SAP Sybase IQ is 16.

What are the main features?

• Speed – Queries up to 100 times faster than a traditional database management system (DBMS).
• Lower total cost of ownership – Uses sophisticated compression algorithms that reduce storage volume by up to 70 percent compared to a traditional DBMS.
• Ease of use – Easier to maintain than traditional enterprise data warehouse applications; does not require intensive tuning.
• Scalability – Offers nearly linear scalability for users and data, accommodating large volumes of users and data. It also supports multiplexing, especially in GNU/Linux environments where CPU-level scalability may be limited.
• Flexibility – Sybase IQ comes packaged in different editions, depending on the organization’s query processing needs.

 

Supported Platforms

Sybase IQ supports the following operating systems:

• HP-UX
• Microsoft Windows
• AIX
• Solaris
• GNU/Linux
• UNIX

 

What is this server about?

Sybase IQ is a high-performance decision support server specifically designed for data storage. This cross-platform product runs on several popular platforms including Unix, Linux, and Windows.

Sybase IQ is part of the Adaptive Server® family, which includes Adaptive Server Enterprise for business transactions and mixed workload environments, as well as SQL Anywhere, a smaller version of Adaptive Server often used for mobile and occasionally connected computing.

 

Sybase Database Architecture

The Sybase database architecture provides a common code base for Sybase IQ and SQL Anywhere, with data warehouses optimized for workload. It uses the IQ warehouse for data storage. These products share a common command syntax and user interface, facilitating application development and user access.

 

Quick Access to Multiple Data Sources

Sybase IQ can integrate data from various sources, not only IQ databases but also other databases from the Adaptive Server family, as well as non-Sybase databases and flat files. It can import this data into its IQ database, allowing it to leverage IQ's fast access capabilities. It can also query other databases directly, using the remote data access capabilities of Sybase IQ.

 

Data Storage and Sybase IQ

Data warehouses are collections of data designed to enable business analysts to analyze information. They are usually distinct from production databases to avoid disrupting daily operations. Data warehouses are often used as repositories upon which decision support systems (DSS) can be built. A decision support system is a software application designed to allow an organization to analyze data to support business decision-making.

 

Capabilities of Sybase IQ

All of Sybase IQ's capabilities are designed to facilitate DSS applications. A unique indexing system accelerates data analysis. Query optimization provides quick answers, even when the results include thousands or millions of rows of data. Simultaneous data access for multiple querying users and the ability to update the database without interrupting query processing provide the 24/7 access users expect.

Sybase IQ multiplex is a highly scalable shared disk grid technology that allows simultaneous data loads and queries across independent data processing nodes connected to a shared data source. For details and syntax, see Using Sybase IQ Multiplex.

 

How does Sybase IQ make connections?

To establish a connection with Sybase IQ, the client application performs the following steps:

 

1. Locate the interface library. The client application must locate the ODBC driver or the Embedded SQL interface library.
2. Gather a list of connection parameters. Since connection parameters can be provided in various places, such as data sources, a connection string assembled by the application, and an environment variable, Sybase IQ assembles the parameters into a single list.
3. Locate a server. Using the connection parameters, Sybase IQ locates a database server on its machine or on a network.
4. Locate the database. Once it locates the server, Sybase IQ finds the database to which it is connecting.
5. The following sections describe each of these steps in detail.

 

Next steps in the connection

 

Locating the interface library

The client application makes a call to one of Sybase IQ's interface libraries. Generally, the location of this DLL or shared library is transparent to the user. Here we describe how the library is found in case of issues.

 

Locating the ODBC driver

For ODBC, the interface library is also known as the ODBC driver. An ODBC client application calls the ODBC driver manager, and the driver manager locates the Sybase IQ driver.

The ODBC driver manager searches the data source supplied in the odbc.ini file or registry to locate the driver. The ODBC manager completes the current location of the driver based on the registry entries for the driver that were established when the IQ client software was installed.

 

Locating the Embedded SQL interface library

Embedded SQL applications call the interface library by name. The name of the Sybase IQ Embedded SQL interface library is as follows:

• Windows: dblib11.dll
• UNIX: libdblib11 with an operating system-specific extension.

The locations searched depend on the operating system:

In Windows, the client application searches for files in the current directory, in the system path, and in the Windows and Windows\system directories.

In UNIX, the client application searches for files in the system path and the user's library path.

 

When the library is found

Once the interface library is located, the client application passes a connection string to it. The interface library uses the connection string to assemble a list of connection parameters, which it uses to establish a connection with a server.