Central Bank of Russia begins replacing Oracle with Russian DBMS

"the STC of Relex" conducts negotiations with the Bank of Russia (the Central Bank, the Central Bank) on the delivery contract Linter DBMS for a number of the divisions in regions, told TAdviser two sources familiar with parts of negotiations, in December, 2019. "the STC of Relex" refused comments. The Central Bank could not answer questions of TAdviser of use "Linter" quickly.

According to the source TAdviser close to the Central Bank, some licenses of this DBMS in the Central Bank is already used. How many, the interlocutor of TAdviser found it difficult to specify. "Linter" in the Central Bank department across Tula region where since June, 2018 in commercial operation it functions as a part of a program and technology complex of preparation and data collection (PTK design and estimate documentation) instead of earlier used Oracle DBMS became the pilot platform on implementation.

Since 2014 in the Central Bank the Commission on ensuring import substitution in information communications system works (a photo - Reuters/Maxim Zmeyev)

PTK design and estimate documentation is a part of an information and analytical system of the Central Bank. With its use banks send different forms of the reporting to the Central Bank. PTK design and estimate documentation is applied in all credit institutions of Russia except for Moscow and also in divisions of the Central Bank.

According to the interlocutor of TAdviser familiar with parts of this project, in addition to Toole's department, "Linter" as a part of PTK design and estimate documentation in trial operation is also in some other divisions of the Central Bank: Youzhny, the Far East and Siberian GU and also in departments Samara, Sevastopol, Yaroslavl, Kostroma and in NB of Buryatia. These organizations, according to it, submitted purchasing requests of the licenses "Linter".

Transfer of PTK design and estimate documentation to domestic DBMS is carried out within initiatives of import substitution of the Central Bank. Since 2014 in the Bank of Russia the Commission on ensuring import substitution in information communications system works. Replacement of DBMS – one of assigned tasks.

According to a source of TAdviser, close to the Central Bank, familiar with project parts on PTK design and estimate documentation, in addition to "Linter" it is department considered the possibility of application and other DBMS, including PostgreSQL and the Korean Tibero. Results were received quite close, but the choice stopped on "Linter" as the developer was ready to provide free copies of DBMS for approbation and support on a pilot project, the interlocutor of TAdviser says.

"Pilot" started at the beginning of 2017. Completions were the same year entered to PTK design and estimate documentation and to Linter DBMS according to requirements of the Central Bank. Signed the contract with Relex for delivery of licenses of the Central Bank directly as with the only supplier later.

At the end of 2017 the Central Bank suggested all credit institutions to use in Russia Linter DBMS for PTK design and estimate documentation. The decision on application of this DBMS in this system in credit institutions is voluntary. According to one of sources of TAdviser, as of December about 11 banks of the regional level transferred at themselves PTK design and estimate documentation to "Linter". Negotiations and with the largest Banks of Russia are conducted.

The interlocutor of TAdviser added that in credit institutions most often a key factor at decision-making for transition to domestic DBMS is the economic factor – an opportunity to save on licenses. But sometimes representatives of banks are interested in import substitution for the further career to get experience in this sphere.

Besides, in the Central Bank, apparently, became interested in application "Linter" and in the closed circuit. So, according to two sources TAdviser, the Bank of Russia purchased licenses of domestic DBMS for application as the platform for the software package "Trading Day of the Central Storage" working with the restricted information.

In addition, one of interlocutors of TAdviser says, the possibility of use of Linter DBMS is considered also in payment solutions of the Central Bank.

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Information technologies in the Central Bank of the Russian Federation