IBM is set to release a beta of its enterprise database software package DB2 (v8), which comes with more advanced "self-healing" alerts for administrators and support for open standards driving the Web Services movement.

The beta will be available starting Tuesday, and can be downloaded at http://www.ibm.com/db2/v8beta. A company spokesperson said it would release an update on feedback from developers by the fall.

Among the version's new features is an automatic update capability called "Health Center." It sends alerts to administrators on a number of devices (pagers, PDAs, or e-mail) about anomalies that may pop up in the database, such as if a query is taking too much time or the system is running down on memory.

From there, the administrator could receive suggestions on how to fix the problem and, in most instances, log onto a wireless LAN in order to fix the issue. When the fix is in, the administrator also gets a notice that the problem has been addressed.

Another feature is a "Configuration Advisor," which helps database administrators (DBAs) cut configuration time on setting database parameters. Typically, DBAs have to set about a hundred parameters in order to configure database systems and access. IBM said the new automated advisor feature offers a drop-down type menu of about 10 or so questions that help cut the configuration time from days, and in some cases weeks, to about 20 minutes because it automatically sets the database parameters for the DBA.

The new DB2 version is also part of IBM's embrace of Web Services protocols that promote open standards. IBM calls the version the only database to support Federated Web Services.

Because so many enterprise systems have a smattering of information sources and proprietary computing systems (Unix, Windows, and of course, Linux) running on any given day, the version is expected extend even farther the integration features that have long been the hallmark of DB2 packages.

IBM said using a single SQL query with this version, for example, the enterprise systems can access and consolidate information from other Web Services providers in the quest to link up suppliers, customers and employees over the Internet. The federated capabilities are key underpinnings to DB2 as well as IBM's strategy, compared to the more centralized, proprietary approach to enterprise database management by competitors such as Oracle.

The latest version is also a chance for IBM and developers to showcase industry progress in incorporating and agreeing on how to structure XML schema in order to integrate different data sources and enterprise computing systems.

The company said DB2 now automates the transformations that programmers typically are required to write, which enables XML documents to be viewed on a Web browser; they are also to be provided as a combination of SQL language and DB2 XML Extender enhancements.

The beta comes with a "Developer Center" designed to support developers building applications in either JAVA or Microsoft environments alongside DB2.

Other features:

* incorporates faster query response times with "multi-dimensional clustering" capabilities that help the customer input the information in fewer steps in order to find it more quickly and from any view required.

* provides online utilities for tasks such as table reorganization, index maintenance and database loads. The goal is to add more flexibility in managing online environments.

* supports 64-bit environment for Linux and Windows.

In a related development, IBM and ILS Technology, a maker of chip-related software, are now in a non-exclusive alliance focused on developing diagnostic applications for the global semiconductor industry.

Their goal is to help improve current semiconductor equipment and reduce field service engineering costs by boosting equipment availability, speeding equipment installation and weeding out more "test" wafers that never make it to market.

Some of ILS Technology's products such as its e-Centre diagnostic software, are built to work with IBM's DB2 database, WebSphere infrastructure software and eServer lines and embrace open architecture protocols. With the alliance, the product will be deployed in IBM Microelectronics Division's 300 mm wafer fabricator center.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies expect to jointly market and sell ILS products such as e-Centre and ServiceNet software, which helps enable secure transmission of manufacturing data related to the fabrication of wafers.