Database automation software boasts minimal configuration

In a recent conversation with software provider GridApp about the release of the latest version of GridApp’s flagship database automation software, Clarity 4.0, CEO Rob Gardos and Chief Scientist Matthew Zito described their product as “out-of-the-box.” But does anyone really believe that there is such thing as a true out of the box tool? As the briefing went on, it became clear that GridApp is getting closer to such a deployment with their online model-based best practices configuration.

Essentially, admins must create profiles (models) of their existing configuration and when Clarity runs, it lets you know what isn’t set up correctly according to their online best practices support, which you can then correct. And that’s it. Your database management is automated. Of course, I’m simplifying, but the point remains that although System i admins do not need to create and maintain any new scripts (thus, the out-of-the-box tagline), they still need to do some system modification.

Gardos and Zito said that Clarity is for organization that need to manage a minimum of 50 databases and that the product is intended for a enterprise-level organizations. But they point out that it’s not uncommon and it doesn’t take long for businesses to reach the 1000 database threshold.Clarity is cross-platform software, meaning that it can be used on Windows, Linux, Solaris, System i, pretty much anything. There are a few systems that aren’t yet fully functional, though. Support for zLinux isnt’ ready . . . yet.

If you use Clarity or any other database automation software, we’d like to know about it. You can always post comments to this blog or send me an email. We’d be interested to know your experience with automation or any other systems management tools and strategies.