Informix
| Company type | Product suite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Database management systems |
| Predecessor | Informix Corporation |
| Fate | Acquired by IBM in 2001; development and support transferred to HCL Technologies in 2017 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Informix Database Server (versions up to 15.0), Informix Client-SDK, Informix-4GL, Informix Warehouse Accelerator, Informix Enterprise Gateway, OneDB Database Server |
| Owner | IBM (brand), HCL Technologies (development and support), transitioning to Actian (ownership) |
| Parent | IBM Information Management division; HCL Technologies; Actian (Data, Analytics and Insights division within HCLSoftware) |
Informix represents a suite of database management systems within IBM's Information Management division, specializing in both relational and multi-model databases. Initially created by Informix Corporation, the Informix Software branch was acquired by IBM in 2001.
In April 2017, IBM entrusted the ongoing development and support responsibilities to HCL Technologies under a 15-year agreement, with several IBM staff members moving to HCL. While IBM continues to sell the product under the IBM Informix brand, HCL markets it as HCL Informix.
The latest release, version 14.10, serves as the foundation for multiple editions that differ in capacity and feature sets. Informix databases are extensively deployed in high-volume OLTP environments across industries such as retail, finance, energy, utilities, manufacturing, and transportation. The platform has also been optimized for data warehousing tasks and accommodates data types that extend beyond standard SQL.
On July 24, 2020, HCL introduced OneDB Database Server V1.0.0.0—a multi-model database management system derived from Informix technology. The subsequent OneDB 2.0 version, launched on August 19, 2021, is designed as a cloud-native, multi-cloud platform managed through Kubernetes orchestration.
On December 29, 2021, Actian (previously known as Ingres Corporation) became a wholly owned subsidiary of HCL America and now functions as the Data, Analytics and Insights division within HCLSoftware. The Informix product line is anticipated to transition from HCL to Actian ownership, with both HCL Informix and OneDB already accessible via Actian’s Electronic Software Distribution portal.
Key products
By 2025, both IBM and HCL versions of Informix have advanced to release 15.0. A major enhancement in version 15.0 involves lifting numerous internal restrictions, such as limits on rows per data page, data pages per table partition, increased page sizes, and the overall storage capacity managed by a single Informix instance.
Version 14.10 brought several innovations including native index compression, compatibility with MongoDB JSON drivers, and support for distributing database objects across multiple servers (sharding). SQL queries can be executed against either the local server or an entire grid seamlessly.
Additional functionalities introduced in 14.10 include partial indexing—allowing indexes on subsets of table rows—and multi-valued key indexes applicable to data types like LIST, SET, MULTISET, and BSON arrays.
Informix supports heterogeneous clustering with diverse deployment models that provide robust data redundancy and high availability; this capability is marketed by IBM under the name Informix Flexible Grid.
IBM Informix is offered in various editions: free developer versions, editions tailored for small to medium businesses, and fully featured enterprise editions. The advanced data warehouse edition incorporating Informix Warehouse Accelerator (IWA) has been phased out in favor of the Advanced Enterprise Edition which includes IWA licensing rights.
HCL Informix provides a single commercial edition compatible with IBM’s Advanced Enterprise Edition alongside a trial version restricted only by time expiration. Key features of HCL Informix 14.10 include:
- Achieving feature parity with IBM Informix 14.10 for on-premises implementations
- Transition from FlexNet license management to script-based monitoring consistent with other Actian products
- Broadened operating system support encompassing Linux on Power Little Endian and Solaris Sparc
Positioning
Informix is designed to excel in scenarios that demand minimal database management, such as embedded database applications. It has demonstrated reliability in handling high transaction volumes and ensuring continuous availability, which is critical for operations like manufacturing processes and reservation platforms. Its ease of maintenance has contributed to its broad adoption in retail settings, particularly for point-of-sale and in-store implementations.
With robust integration capabilities in devices like gateways and routers, support for time series data, a compact footprint, and low administrative requirements, Informix is well-suited for Internet-of-Things (IoT) environments where gateways facilitate the connection and management of sensor and device data.
Other products
In addition to the version 15.0 core engine, the Informix product suite includes several legacy database solutions that remain supported: Informix OnLine, Informix Standard Edition (SE), and Informix C-ISAM. These lightweight engines are frequently embedded within third-party software and are collectively referred to as the "Informix Classics."
Other products within the Informix portfolio consist of:
- Informix Client-SDK: a development toolkit for client applications compatible with multiple platforms, including .NET for Windows and various communication protocols on Unix/Linux systems.
- Informix-4GL: a fourth-generation programming language tailored for application development.
- Informix Warehouse Accelerator (IWA): an in-memory database solution utilizing IBM BLU acceleration technology. It combines features such as in-memory processing, tokenization, advanced compression techniques, and columnar storage to deliver enhanced performance for business intelligence and data warehousing queries. IWA can operate either on the same server as Informix or separately, structuring data into marts optimized for analytical workloads.
- Informix Enterprise Gateway: facilitates connectivity between Informix systems and any ODBC Level 2-compliant drivers on UNIX/Linux platforms, enabling transparent access to databases like DB2, Oracle, Sybase, and others as if they were native Informix servers.
Older Informix versions and non-IBM heritage products continue to function on modern hardware through emulation.
Training and certification
IBM provides extensive Data Servers Training programs that encompass fundamental through advanced Informix topics, including SQL proficiency.
The Informix on Campus initiative, part of IBM’s Academic Initiative, delivers software licenses, documentation, and educational resources to universities worldwide. The "Informix In a Box" package offers practical labs, instructional materials, recorded sessions, VMware virtual appliances, and promotional items aimed at supporting educators in teaching Informix.
User groups
Active Informix user communities exist in countries such as Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, the United States, among others. The IIUG (International Informix Users Group) acts as a coalition of these local groups, providing a range of member services.