Progress DataDirect Announces Advanced Wire Protocol Driver for Microsoft SQL Server

BEDFORD, MA--(Marketwire - November 2, 2009) - Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS), a leading software provider that enables enterprises to be operationally responsive, today announced the availability of its enhanced Progress® DataDirect Connect® for ODBC database driver for Microsoft SQL Server. The Microsoft SQL Server native wire protocol driver, which is available in version 6.0 of the DataDirect Connect line of ODBC drivers, includes new innovations intended to streamline application development, boost performance and reduce deployment and maintenance costs.

The Progress DataDirect driver for Microsoft SQL Server simultaneously supports all versions of the popular database and applications running on Unix, Linux and Windows. New performance and enterprise-class features have been shown to increase throughput performance by 35 percent with 75 percent greater Central Processing Unit (CPU) efficiency than with previous versions of the Progress DataDirect driver. Performance testing also shows significant improvements in response time, throughput and scalability of database applications when compared to other third-party drivers.

Wire protocol architecture allows the DataDirect Connect for ODBC drivers to deliver fast, scalable and secure application connections to relational databases. By removing the need for database client-library software, time consuming and complicated deployment and configuration issues related to installing and maintaining different versions of the client software for different databases, database versions and operating systems are eliminated.

Progress DataDirect continues its innovations with DataDirect Bulk Load, introduced in version 6.0 of DataDirect Connect for ODBC and a performance feature of the Microsoft SQL Server driver. The complete, driver-based implementation delivers the best performance for bulk-load scenarios without the need for database vendor tools or client libraries, and has been shown to accelerate data warehousing and enable faster ETL operations. A recent customer installation reports overnight batch cycles that once took 4.5 hours can now be completed in only 45 minutes using data connectivity components from Progress DataDirect.

With the DataDirect Bulk Load functionality found in DataDirect Connect for ODBC version 6.0, software developers can:

-- Load bulk data into a database the fastest way possible through ODBC
-- Export data from one database and import it into another quickly and
easily
-- Perform a variety of bulk operations without having to use or deploy
load tools from the database vendor
-- Boost the performance of existing batch operations without the need
for application code changes

"Companies turn to Progress DataDirect not only to deliver reliable, high-performance database connectivity but also to anticipate and respond to changing data-access requirements through innovation and feature-rich products," said John Goodson, vice president and general manager of Progress DataDirect, the data infrastructure division of Progress Software. "The Microsoft SQL Server native wire protocol driver from Progress DataDirect has set the bar for excellence with its advanced driver functionality, updated enterprise features and performance enhancements."

Other key features available in the DataDirect ODBC driver for Microsoft SQL Server include application failover to automatically redirect requests to an alternate database server if the primary server is unavailable because of a hardware failure or traffic overload; security features including operating system authentication via Kerberos or NTLM for creating a Single Sign-On environment and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption to protect critical data; security features including data encryption via SSL; advanced connection pooling; and support for new Microsoft SQL Server 2008 features. For more details and a complete list of new product features, visit http://www.datadirect.com/products/odbc/index.ssp

About Progress Software Corporation

Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) is a global software company that enables enterprises to be operationally responsive to changing conditions and customer interactions as they occur -- to capitalize on new opportunities, drive greater efficiencies and reduce risk. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of best-in-class infrastructure software spanning event-driven visibility and real-time response, open integration, data access and integration, and application development and deployment -- all supporting on-premises and SaaS/Cloud deployments. Progress maximizes the benefits of operational responsiveness while minimizing IT complexity and total cost of ownership. Progress can be reached at www.progress.com or +1-781-280-4000.

Progress, DataDirect and DataDirect Connect are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.