Log Explorer 1.5 Provides Support for SQL Server 2000

Lumigent Technologies Inc, a developer of high-availability database tools for business-critical platforms, began shipping Log Explorer version 1.5, a software package that provides the only method of selective online data recovery for Microsoft SQL Server databases. Now with support for SQL Server 2000, Log Explorer fulfills a critical need for DBAs, IT professionals, QA engineers, corporate auditors and developers by providing access to the SQL Server transaction log in order to analyze transactions and reconstruct lost data.

Designed for the growing number of SQL Server databases installed in business-critical environments, Log Explorer complements SQL Server by giving users the ability to analyze and resolve user and application errors including data loss, unauthorized data modifications and unexpected application behavior. Log Explorer enables non-stop business operation by bringing online log-based recovery techniques previously available only for mainframe database systems to the SQL Server platform. By facilitating online data recovery, Log Explorer keeps databases up and running--saving money and resources and preserving the corporate reputation.

"With tens of thousands of people relying on Bloomberg TV and radio daily for financial and other information, my primary responsibility is to keep our databases available 24 hours per day," said Ray Miao, Head DBA, Bloomberg L.P. "With Log Explorer, I can now solve problems and recover data from the transaction log without bringing the database off line."

Log Explorer Solves Costly Business Problems

According to Forrester Research, database downtime can cost even small businesses more than $8,000 per hour and can lead to customer dissatisfaction and brand erosion. User and application errors account for most instances of data loss in SQL Server environments, and can lead to expensive downtime resulting in both immediate lost business and damage to corporate image. Log Explorer helps minimize losses by keeping the database on line and available during recovery operations.

"Lumigent's Log Explorer technology contributes to improved uptime and reliability of business systems that rely on SQL Server, making it a valuable part of any database administrator's or developer's tool kit," said Steve Murchie, SQL Server group product manager at Microsoft. "As SQL Server continues to make inroads into enterprise data centers, management facilities like Log Explorer become important extensions to our core offerings."

Log Explorer is instrumental in solving many common database problems:

• Highly Selective Online Data Recovery -- for database administrators and IT operations, Log Explorer allows online data recovery using the SQL Server transaction log. Log Explorer offers unprecedented granularity: data can be recovered based on row, table, database or individual transaction.
• Security and Auditing -- for data and security auditors, Log Explorer makes it possible for the first time to identify all changes to a database, selected by a broad range of criteria such as program or user ID, change date, or row. This allows auditors to verify application and user behavior and validate security policies.
• Problem Analysis -- for developers and database administrators, errors caused by user or application mistakes can be identified quickly and easily. The log-based approach makes it possible to track down problems in production systems without adding performance overhead and provides access to historical data, making it possible to resolve problems that occurred even before Log Explorer was installed.

Requirements, Pricing and Availability

Log Explorer 1.5 is available directly from Lumigent Technologies for $1,495 per server ($1,595 outside of North America). Log Explorer 1.5 supports SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 under Windows NT. Lumigent offers an unconditional thirty-day money-back guarantee.

About Microsoft SQL Server

Within the last two years, Microsoft SQL Server has evolved into a highly reliable, highly available and easily manageable database platform. With the advent of SQL Server 2000, Microsoft is positioning SQL Server to compete against mainframe environments and other relational databases. SQL Server 2000 provides large-scale online transaction processing (OLTP), data warehousing, support for e-commerce applications, high-level security, and an integrated XML environment. Bank of America, Honeywell, Starbucks and USA Today are a few of the companies cited by Microsoft as SQL Server users.

About Lumigent Technologies

Lumigent Technologies is dedicated to solving critical database problems. Founded in 2000, the company is privately held and is based in Concord, Massachusetts (USA). Lumigent Technologies serves companies in the financial, manufacturing, e-commerce and consumer goods sectors. Its customers include Bloomberg Financial, TRW, I.M.P. Group International, CyBerCorp and Proxicom. For further information, please contact Lumigent at 978-371-9082, toll-free at (866) LUMIGENT (866-586-4436), fax 978-371-8275 or on the Internet at www.lumigent.com.

Lumigent Technologies' Customer Testimonials

CyberCorp

"As a financial organization, CyBerCorp, a Direct Access brokerage, is required to audit all access to the database server," said Michael Shannon, Senior Database Engineer, CyBerCorp. "Log Explorer fulfills this requirement transparently, without consuming additional processing resources. In addition, we have found it useful for reviewing archived transaction logs for auditing and code debugging."

I.M.P. Group International

"We had been searching for a tool that would provide a measure of accountability for our SQL Server-based applications. Log Explorer provides us with a tool that allows us to determine what was done and by whom," said Michael Hoyt, Database Analyst, I.M.P. Group International. "Log Explorer fulfills our need to access the transaction log of SQL Server, providing us with an audit trail for our applications." I.M.P. is a diversified worldwide company employing over 3,500 people in aviation, aerospace, medical supplies, hotels and other varied interests.

Michael Hotek, SQL Server MVP

"There are few products out there that I would say are absolute must-haves. Log Explorer is a must for any company running SQL Server," said Michael Hotek, SQL Server MVP and Editor of mssqlserver.com. "Because it provides the ability to recover data without having to take a mission-critical, high-volume database off line and restore it, Log Explorer will save you plenty of time, effort and money."

Proxicom

"We were able to download a copy of Log Explorer and use it to pinpoint the source of a problem--in only one hour," said Chris Girolamo, Director of Enterprise Applications, Proxicom. "With our systems, our ability to react quickly to database transaction issues is critically important to maintaining the integrity of our data."

Contact Lumigent Technologies, Stephen Lewin-Berlin, 978-318-9456, steve@lumigent.com.