IBM InfoSphere DataStage
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Data integration, ETL |
| Predecessor | DataStage (originally by VMark Software Inc) |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Lee Scheffler |
| Headquarters | Armonk , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Owner | IBM |
| Parent | IBM Information Server (InfoSphere Information Server) |
| Website | www |
IBM InfoSphere DataStage is an ETL solution included in the IBM Information Platforms Solutions portfolio and the IBM InfoSphere suite. It utilizes a graphical interface to facilitate the design of data integration workflows and is offered in several variants, such as Server, Enterprise, and MVS editions. Its client-server model allows deployment on both Unix and Windows operating systems.
Recognized as a powerful data integration platform, DataStage is extensively employed in Data Warehousing initiatives to prepare data for analytical reporting.
History
Originally created by VMark Software Inc, a company also known for the UniVerse database system and the DataStage ETL product, DataStage's initial prototype was developed by Lee Scheffler in early 1996. Peter Weyman, VMark’s Vice President of Strategy, identified potential within the ETL market and appointed Scheffler as the lead architect. He introduced the "Stage" naming convention to highlight the modular design approach, which was subsequently used in related offerings like QualityStage and MetaStage. The project gained approval for development in June 1996, proceeded to alpha testing by October, beta testing in November, and officially launched in January 1997.
After merging with Unidata in October 1997, VMark rebranded as Ardent Software. In 1999, Ardent was acquired by Informix Corporation. IBM purchased Informix's database division in 2001 but separated the data integration tools into a new entity called Ascential Software. Later that year, Ascential acquired Torrent Systems for $46 million to enhance DataStage XE with parallel processing functionality.
In March 2005, IBM acquired Ascential Software and integrated DataStage into its WebSphere product line as WebSphere DataStage. By 2006, it became part of IBM Information Server within the Information Management portfolio while maintaining the WebSphere branding. The suite was renamed InfoSphere Information Server in 2008, with the product rebranded as InfoSphere DataStage.
Releases
- Enterprise Edition (PX): incorporates a parallel processing framework enabling parallel ETL job execution.
- Server Edition: the original version supporting Server Jobs; subsequent updates introduced Sequence Jobs (DataStage 5) and Parallel Jobs through Enterprise Edition (DataStage 6).
- MVS Edition: allows development of mainframe jobs on Windows or Unix/Linux platforms before compiling them for deployment on mainframes.
- DataStage for PeopleSoft: Server Edition variant including pre-configured PeopleSoft EPM jobs under an OEM arrangement with PeopleSoft and Oracle.
- DataStage TX: tailored for intricate transaction and message processing tasks; formerly known as "Mercator," now referred to as IBM Transformation Extender.
- ISD (Information Services Director, formerly DataStage RTI): a Real Time Integration package enabling server or parallel jobs to operate as SOA services.
IBM Acquisition
Acquired by IBM in 2005, InfoSphere DataStage is integrated within the IBM Information Server platform. It features a client/server architecture where job designs are created using a Windows client application and managed centrally through a server repository. The platform supports scalable parallel data integration across various high-volume sources and destinations while offering advanced metadata management and broad enterprise connectivity options.