Blacksmithing a Fishing Hook - Ketchikan 2010

Confio Software is joining SQL Cruise as a sponsor for the first time.  Confio, developers of Iginite for SQL Server, DB2, Oracle, Sybase, and now VMWare is based in Colorado and actively supports many fine SQL Server Community initiatives and organizations such as The Professional Association for SQL Server, SQL Cruise, SQL Saturday, and SQL Excursions.  I spoke recently with Nadine Pyter, Director of Marketing for Confio about their involvement in the community, their product: Ignite 8, and their technical team.

TF – Nadine, we’d like to thank Confio for sponsoring SQL Cruise Alaska.  Can you tell us a little about what attracted Confio to SQL Cruise?

NP – Confio has been a huge supporter of the SQL Server community ever since we launched Ignite for SQL Server late 2008. We’ve been national sponsors of SQL Saturday events 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2010-2011 we traveled to speak about performance tuning, monitoring etc at over 25 regional PASS SQL Server User Groups. My point? If there is any kind of SQL Server training good on, Confio is there.

TF – Can you give us some insight on what Confio has been up to lately at in terms of enhancements to the Ignite for SQL Server product?

NP – Glad you asked! Ignite 8.1 just GAed in May. The latest and greatest version is loaded with customer-requested features such as a new dashboard interface that gives you a big picture of your response time and server health warnings in one place.  Then we added VMWare monitoring capabilities, to give DBAs visibility to the actual server resources (on both the virtual machines as well as physical hosts) that become hidden when SQL Server moved to VMware platforms.

TF – But Confio isn’t simply about SQL Server products is it?  You support other relational database platforms as well, correct?

NP – Again, glad you asked! Yes, Ignite monitors SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase and DB2 from a single application. One install, one license, one key – simple. Plus Ignite was developed to serve as a multi-DBMS tool, so it provides the relevant metrics, wait types and detailed query analysis as they apply to each database. This is NOT a Frankenstein tool bolted together with bits and pieces.

TF – You added fellow SQL MVP Tom LaRock to your team last year.  I’ve known Tom for many years – he’s a great guy and very active in the SQL Server community.  Can you give us some insight into what role he plays in Confio’s interaction with the SQL Server community?  Are we seeing any of Tom in the enhancements in Ignite that are in the works?

NP – Confio has always played a huge part in the SQL Server Community, but now we have Tom to put a “face” on that relationship. As with all our DBAs, Tom is intricately involved in product development and new features.

TF – Any chance we may get him on a cruise in the future?  Perhaps Janis or Dean?

NP – Only if the CEO goes, too. No one is going to float on a boat for a week without Matt Larson on board. BTW – Matt Larson is Confio’s founder and original CTO. The Ignite we have today is built from his vision.

TF – Confio has a really deep pool of technical evangelists when you consider Dean Richards, Janis Griffin, and Tom have a combined total of 50 years in database support under their belts.  As someone who actively tries to keep himself motivated I need to ask how do you manage to keep these superstars engaged and thinking about the future after all they’ve seen over the years?

NP – Easy. Our future customers keep their skills honed and on their toes. Everyday our DBAs engage with dozens of prospective customers – learning about their environments, all with their own unique challenges and head-scratching problems. We get some real crazy stuff. They are on the front lines… and that is EXCITING. Plus remember we support Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase and DB2 and now VMware. These three are the best of the best.

TF – What do you think of the recent growth of specialty SQL Server training events?  We’re proud to have ushered in other events along the lines of what we’ve put together here and I wonder what you’ll think we will see in terms of unique training opportunities for SQL Server professionals in the coming 12-18 months?

NP – Microsoft is doing a great job empowering the SQL Server user community to grow itself organically and as a result, the community is not only self-sustaining, its growing at an increasing pace. More users, more training! And what a selection: online, books, local and regional user groups, SQL Saturday, SQL Share, SQL Cruise, SQL Excursions, etc. Personally, I am holding out for a SQL Server yoga retreat. SQL Anusara anyone? 

TF – It’s my understanding that Confio has an interesting association with our cruise line we use for SQL Cruise: Norwegian Cruise Line.  Can you comment?

NP – Yes! We are thrilled to announce that Ignite 8 is running on the Pearl as well as the rest of the NCL fleet.

Editor’s Note:  This last question was also posed to Don Bergal, CMO of Confio Software.  I had the opportunity to meet Don first as Tech-Ed 2010 in New Orleans and again at the 2010 PASS Summit.  Don is an engaging leader and is fully committed to the success of Ignite and of the SQL Community.

 DB – It is serendipity that Ignite 8 will be in use on the cruise ship itself while the SQL Cruise training session is underway but that particular excursion is just one example of how we integrate into a mission-critical database ecosystem. Norwegian Cruise Lines has a reputation for having one of the best-run I.T. departments in the industry, so we are thrilled to become a part of this prestigious organization.