Microsoft takes on high-end data warehousing

Microsoft has announced SQL Server Fast Track Data Warehouse

Microsoft has launched a new data warehousing platform based on SQL Server 2008.

The company announced on Monday that it is partnering with several server and hardware vendors for a new line of systems known as SQL Server Fast Track Data Warehouse (FTDW).

The new systems combine SQL Server with data warehousing and parallel processing software Microsoft obtained when it acquired DATAllegro in July 2008.

Dell, HP and Bull are among the companies planning to offer systems based on the new platform.

Microsoft claimed that the FTDW systems can scale to 32TB, while transfer speeds can reach 200Mbit/s per processor core. Hardware prices will start at $13,000 (£8,900) per terabyte.

The company hopes that the programme will allow customers to reduce the cost of building and deploying systems to house increasing volumes of data.

"With SQL Server FTDW, we are offering companies a choice in reference configurations and technical guidance to create a customised, highly scalable enterprise-class data warehouse solution that fits their needs and their budget, " said Microsoft SQL Server data warehousing manager Stuart Frost.