IBM Gives Away DB2

IBM Gives Away DB2: "The last of the database giants is adapting to the demands of all-you-can-eat, no-money-down, open-source code, with IBM set to roll out a freebie DB2 version on Jan. 30.
DB2 Universal Database Express-C (Community Edition) will offer the same core DB2 server, but in a smaller package, designed for application embedding as well as software development, deployment and redistribution.
Consistent with DB2, Express-C will have no limit on number of users and no limit on database size. It's deployable on up to two processing cores and up to two dual-core chips on x86 systems. The memory maximum size is 4GB.
To fan the flames of quick uptake, IBM is setting up a new public forum on developerWorks, with optional for-fee support offered by IBM as well. IBM is also setting up a DB2 Express community team to nurture the community.
Of course, the initial take on IBM's move will be that it's got to stay competitive with free offerings from its competitors.
Microsoft was the first of the big-database triumvirate to offer a free version. In June 2004, it introduced SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. SQL Server Express can use only a single CPU, limits database size to 4GB and supports a maximum of only 1GB of memory. "