Media Coverages
Patchworks: One of the Most Interesting Services
May 4, 2007 -- COLLABORATE 07 has emerged as a significant venue for companies to preview their new technology. Several companies gave 5 Minute Briefing an exclusive look at the products they intend to roll out over the next several weeks. Among the most interesting, GridApp Systems, a provider of database automation technology, is preparing to release Patchworks, the industry's first automated service to build, test and deliver complete patch workflow bundles, according to the company. Database patching, Matt Zito, GridApp's chief scientist pointed out to 5 Minute Briefing on the floor at Collaborate, is a painful process. Done incorrectly, the entire information infrastructure can crash. "They want the patching process to be like patches for Microsoft," he said.
Currently, database administrators must first test patches against their own configurations and then deploy them. Patchworks, Zito said, automates that process. "It is software as a service," he said. Patchworks can determine the specific database configuration, customize the patch accordingly and then deploy it. According to market research cited by GridApp, automated patching can save a company as much as 15 percent in administrative costs. Patchworks, Zito said, is the first step in GridApp's initiative to provide automated workflows to its clients. "We are good at automation and there are additional services we can deliver, he said. Patchworks should be officially announced shortly and is expected to be available in June.