Cockroach Labs, the creator of the distributed SQL database CockroachDB, has announced an OEM partnership with IBM to launch CockroachDB PostgreSQL for IBMTM. This strategic collaboration allows enterprises to modernize mission-critical applications with a cloud-native PostgreSQL database designed for active-active business continuity across hybrid environments, including IBM LinuxONE, Linux on Z, Power Systems, Red Hat OpenShift, major public clouds, and other distributed platforms.
For decades, IBM has enabled the world’s largest enterprises to run critical workloads with unmatched reliability, scale, and trust. Its Db2 for z/OS remains the benchmark for transactional integrity on IBM Z, supporting industries where downtime is unacceptable. However, enterprise needs are evolving rapidly. Organizations are increasingly building containerized applications on Kubernetes, adopting hybrid cloud strategies for flexibility, and preparing for an AI-driven future where real-time, resilient data is essential.
AI Authority Trend: Cockroach Labs Launches ISV Program to Deliver Resilient Enterprise Solutions
“The modernization journey can’t wait. Enterprises today face unprecedented pressure to deliver always-on experiences, meet rigorous compliance standards, and unlock real-time data for AI,” said Spencer Kimball, CEO and co-founder of Cockroach Labs. “Through our partnership with IBM, we’re combining CockroachDB’s cloud-native, distributed architecture with the resilience and security of IBM’s enterprise platforms – bringing resilience, scale, and AI-readiness to the environments where they already run their most important systems.”
Why CockroachDB Meets Modern Demands
CockroachDB is purpose-built to tackle the challenges of running relational workloads in cloud-native environments. By combining PostgreSQL compatibility with a distributed architecture, the database offers:
- Always-on availability across zones, regions, or clouds
- Enterprise-grade security, including encryption and compliance, enhanced by IBM LinuxONE’s quantum-safe protections
- Elastic scalability without requiring re-architecture
- Geo-partitioning for data locality and global regulatory compliance
Integrating CockroachDB enables IBM to provide a trusted modernization path, connecting core s390x-enabled systems on IBM Z and LinuxONE with the flexibility of IBM Power Systems, Red Hat OpenShift, and IBM Cloud.
Extending IBM’s Hybrid Cloud Leadership
“Our partnership with Cockroach Labs brings distributed SQL innovation directly into IBM’s hybrid cloud and enterprise platforms,” said Martin Oberhofer, Vice President and Distinguished Engineer at IBM. “By combining CockroachDB’s cloud-native resilience with IBM’s trusted technologies like LinuxONE and Linux on Z, we’re giving clients a modernization path that feels familiar with PostgreSQL yet is built for the future. Together, we empower enterprises to run mission-critical workloads with security, efficiency, and the scalability demanded by the AI era.”
AI Authority Trend: CockroachDB 25.2 Boosts Performance with Vector Indexing
This OEM agreement expands IBM’s data leadership across platforms:
- LinuxONE & IBM Z: Distributed SQL paired with pervasive encryption, AI-infused Telum processors, and energy efficiency
- Red Hat OpenShift: Kubernetes-native operations for hybrid and multi-cloud portability
- IBM Cloud & Power Systems: A consistent foundation for modernizing mission-critical applications while maintaining governance and control
Benefits for Enterprises
The IBM + CockroachDB OEM delivers a modern path for enterprises to transition to cloud-native and Kubernetes environments without rewriting core applications. Built for always-on resilience, CockroachDB ensures distributed scale and zero RPO by default, now fully supported on IBM’s trusted platforms.
Furthermore, it is designed for AI workloads. With real-time CDC streaming into watsonx.data and pgvector support, CockroachDB handles both transactional and vector workloads, enabling AI use cases such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
By consolidating fragmented workloads onto CockroachDB on IBM LinuxONE, enterprises can simplify operations, reduce risk, and modernize confidently all without compromising performance, compliance, or control.
AI Authority Trend: Cockroach Labs Brings Distributed SQL to IBM LinuxONE and Linux on IBM Z
To share your insights, please write to us at sudipto@intentamplify.com
