Oracle Big Data SQL lines up Database with Hadoop, NoSQL frameworks

Hadoop continues to operate as a looming influence in the world of big data, and that holds true with the unveiling of the next step in Oracle's big data roadmap.

The Redwood Shores, Calif.-headquartered corporation introduced Oracle Big Data SQL, SQL-based software streamlining data running between the Oracle Database with NoSQL and Hadoop frameworks.

The approach is touted to minimize data movement, which could translate to faster performance rates for crunching numbers while also reducing security risks while in transit.

Big Data SQL promises to be able to query any and all kinds of structured and unstructured data. Oracle Database's security and encryption features can also be blanketed over Hadoop and NoSQL data.

Beyond extending enterprise governance credit, Oracle connected plenty of dots within its portfolio as well. Big Data SQL runs on Oracle's Big Data Appliance and is set up to play well with the tech titan's flagship Exadata database machine. The Big Data SQL engine also borrowed other familiar portfolio elements such as Smart Scan technology for local data queries from Exadata.

The Big Data Appliance itself was built on top of Oracle’s cloud distribution, which has been in the works for the last three years.

"Oracle has taken some of its intellectual property and moved it on to the Hadoop cluster, from a database perspective,” Mendelson explained.

Neil Mendelson, vice president of big data and advanced analytics at Oracle, told ZDNet on Monday that enterprise customers are still facing the following three obstacles: managing integration and data silos, obtaining the right people with new skill sets or relying on existing in-house talent, and security.

“Over this period of time working with customers, they’re really hitting a number of challenges,” Mendelson posited. He observed much of what customers are doing today is experimental in nature, but they’re now ready to move on to the production stage.

Thus, Mendelson stressed, Big Data SQL is designed to provide users with the ability to issue a single query, which can run against data in Hadoop and NoSQL — individually or any combination therein.

"Oracle has taken some of its intellectual property and moved it on to the Hadoop cluster, from a database perspective,” Mendelson explained.

In order to utilize Big Data SQL, Oracle Database 12c is required first. Production is slated to start in August/September, and pricing will be announced when Big Data SQL goes into general availability.

Also on Tuesday, the hardware and software giant was expected to ship a slew of security updates fixing more than 100 vulnerabilities across hundreds of versions of its products.

That is following a blog post on Monday penned by Oracle's vice president of Java product management, Henrik Stahl, who aimed to clarify the future of Java support on Windows XP.

He dismissed claims that Oracle would hamper Java updates from being applied to systems running the older version of Windows or that Java wouldn't work on XP altogether anymore.

Nevertheless, Stahl reiterated Oracle's previous stance that users still running Windows XP should upgrade to an operating system currently supported.