DMExpress

DMExpress is an ETL tool designed primarily for performance. It processes data using proprietary algorithms instead of the database engine. It is able to generate code in C, C++, Visual Basic, Kornshell and SQL to carry out ETL tasks ^[1]. It can integrate from multiple sources to multiple targets, and supports all the major database engines, including Oracle, Sybase, DB2, Informix, Microsoft SQL Server and Teradata.

Released in November 2004, DMExpress uses "patented algorithms, state-of-the-art parallel processing technology, and dynamic optimization" to achieve high performance (press release). It "extracts data at very high speed from any source database or flat file, applies any kind of record level transformation and/or field level transformation, and then loads the data into any target database or flat file". The speed comes primarily from highly specialised sorting technology previously developed by the company and adapted to the task of ETL^[2].

On November 14, 2008, DMExpress set a world record for ETL performance by extracting, transforming, cleansing, and loading 5.4 TB of data into a Vertica Analytic Database on a c-Class HP BladeSystem in 57 minutes ^[3][4]. Microsoft and Unisys set the previous ETL world record at 2.36 TB/hr in early 2008 ^[5].

The pricing structure of the product is such that customers pay the first five years of support up front ^[6].

Syncsort

Syncsort is the company that produces DMExpress. The company has been around for nearly 40 years ^[7], and counts most of the Fortune 500 companies amongst its customers.

Syncsort provides telephone and on-site customer support for DMExpress.

References

1. ^ Database tools - DMExpress
2. ^ ETL with DMExpress
3. ^ ETL Database Load Benchmark: Full Disclosure Report (November 14, 2008)
4. ^ BetaNews Newswire (December 2, 2008)
5. ^ SQL Server Performance: ETL World Record! (February 27, 2008)
6. ^ DMexpress
7. ^ Syncsort press release