Oracle, Sun target SQL Server sellers

Oracle and Sun have released database bundles to the channel that aim to challenge Microsoft in the mid-market and and tempt SQL Server resellers.

Fred King, general manager of technical alliances and channels at Oracle, said the pre-configured bundles combined Oracle Database 10g with Sun StorEdge 3310 arrays and Sun Fire x64 servers running either Solaris 10 or Linux.

The vendors have been promoting the bundles as suitable for SMBs but King conceded the real appeal would be for businesses with between 200 and 1000 staff.

"But we do have organisations of up to 100 people or fewer that are using the new Oracle Standard Edition product," he said. "This is a good opportunity for the channel."

Thousands of Australian businesses qualified as being in that target market, King said.

"If you're looking for the biggest market opportunity today, it's in the mid-market," he said.

Sun and Oracle had perhaps been stronger in the enterprise market but were really keen to broaden their appeal. But in the database market, SQL Server held a lot of sway in midsize companies, he said.

Resellers currently offering SQL Server would hopefully be tempted away from Microsoft, or at least add the Sun-Oracle packs to their repertoire, he said.

The Sun and Oracle bundles compared well, he claimed. The two vendors had created bundles of proven software running on tried and tested hardware that was easy to install, King said.

The bundles would move through current distributors, such as Alstom IT. However, recruitment was definitely on the agenda where required, King said.

The packs comprise entry-level Oracle Database 10g Standard Edition One or Standard Edition and Oracle Real Application Clusters, Sun Fire Opteron V20z and V40z x64 servers and Sun StorEdge 3310 arrays.

Also, the offering included Sun's N1 Service Provisioning System model for Oracle Database and Oracle Application Server. The model helped customers deploy scalable grids in less time, Sun claimed.

Stephen Borcich, vice-president of partner marketing at Sun, said demand for Sun Fire x64 servers and database products was increasing.

"While the industry has traditionally thought of our longstanding relationship as only the marriage of big iron with leading database technology, the reality is we're continuing to increase our joint presence in the growing x64 server market," Borcich said in a statement.