Advanced DataTools
Advanced DataTools is a US-based professional services firm, founded in 1993, that specialized in IBM Informix database consulting, training, and support. Following founder Lester Knutsen's 2023 retirement, its consulting operations were transferred to XDB Systems, Inc.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersAnnandale, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Advanced DataTools does
Advanced DataTools Corporation is a US-based professional services firm headquartered in Annandale, Virginia, founded in February 1993 by Lester Knutsen to deliver consulting, training, and technical support for the IBM Informix database platform. Its core technology expertise centers on Informix performance tuning, monitoring, and optimization, with proprietary Sysmaster Database scripts used to analyze disk and chunk I/O, log turnover, performance ratios, table and index I/O, and slowest SQL statements. The firm also maintains a library of free tutorials, quick reference guides, the Fastest Informix DBA Contest benchmark, and a catalog of instructor-led training courses on Informix administration and 4GL/PHP development.
The company's go-to-market was a quote-based, direct-engagement professional services model targeting two primary personas: enterprise Informix database administrators needing performance tuning, migrations, and high-availability support, and Informix development teams needing training and best-practice guidance. Distribution was global in reach but US-centric in operations, delivered through the firm's website, an active YouTube channel, IIUG (International Informix Users Group) community engagement, and conference presence at IBM TechXchange. Headcount was reported at 1-10 employees.
Following founder Lester Knutsen's retirement in 2023, after 30 years of operation, Advanced DataTools transferred its Informix consulting and support business to XDB Systems, Inc. (founded by Thomas Beebe and Mike Walker). The Advanced DataTools corporate entity remains technically operating, with its website, archived webcasts, and free resources still live, and with Knutsen delivering a Sysmaster Database presentation at IBM TechXchange 2025. The firm was bootstrapped and founder-controlled throughout its history, with no external funding, no disclosed revenue, and no identified successor leadership team.
Advanced DataTools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Advanced DataTools
- Legal name
- Advanced DataTools Corporation
- Website
- https://advancedatatools.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Advanced DataTools is a US-based professional services firm, founded in 1993, that specialized in IBM Informix database consulting, training, and support. Following founder Lester Knutsen's 2023 retirement, its consulting operations were transferred to XDB Systems, Inc.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Advanced DataTools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Database Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Advanced Analytics & Data Science Services (BPAEAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Database Administration & Data Engineering (RDBMS/NoSQL, ETL/ELT, Pipelines) (EDABAFAI), Data Platforms & Modern Data Stack Services (Lakehouse, DW, MDM) (BPAEAHAC)
Keywords
Where Advanced DataTools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Annandale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Advanced DataTools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Professional database consulting services providing Informix support, performance tuning, and database administration expertise to enterprise clients.
- Training Services: Instructor-led and self-paced training courses on Informix database administration, performance tuning, and development. Includes both paid courses and free introductory materials.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Advanced DataTools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Advanced DataTools is a specialized professional services firm focused exclusively on IBM Informix database technology. The company delivers expert consulting, training, and support services including performance tuning, database administration, migration assistance, and high availability implementations. Operations are built around deep institutional knowledge of the Informix Sysmaster database for monitoring and optimization.
Product overview
Advanced DataTools is a specialized services company focused exclusively on IBM Informix database technology. The company offers a unified portfolio centered on Informix consulting, training, and support services, supported by free technical resources including the Sysmaster Database tools and scripts for performance monitoring and tuning. Services include database performance tuning, configuration optimization, migration assistance, and educational webcasts covering topics from beginner tutorials to advanced techniques like TimeSeries, Enterprise Replication, and IoT implementations. The company has operated since February 1993 and was founded by IBM Informix Lifetime Champion Lester Knutsen, who has over 40 years of Informix experience. Consulting and support operations have been transferred to XDB Systems, Inc., founded by Thomas Beebe and Mike Walker.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Informix Consulting Services Expert consulting services for IBM Informix database servers covering performance tuning, database architecture design, configuration optimization, migration assistance, and high availability implementations for enterprise clients.
- Informix Training Services Professional instructor-led and structured training courses for Informix database administrators and developers, covering administration, performance tuning techniques, and development topics including 4GL and PHP integration.
- Informix Support Services Technical support services for Informix database environments, including troubleshooting, health checks, backup and recovery assistance, and ongoing maintenance support for enterprise customers.
- Sysmaster Database Scripts and Tools
Companies that use Advanced DataTools
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Advanced DataTools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Advanced DataTools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- IBMcoreLester Knutsen presenting at IBM TechXchange 2025 on Managing and Optimizing the IBM Informix Server using the Sysmaster Database. IBM TechXchange is IBM's premier technical conference for users and experts.
- XDB Systems, Inc.coreAdvanced DataTools Informix consulting and support services have been transferred to XDB Systems, Inc., founded by Thomas Beebe and Mike Walker. XDB Systems now handles all database consulting and support requirements for former Advanced DataTools customers.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Advanced DataTools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- XDB Systems, Inc. XDB Systems was founded by Thomas Beebe and Mike Walker and has directly taken over Advanced DataTools' Informix consulting and support services — it is the closest direct peer and operational successor, serving the same Informix customer base with the same niche focus.
- Percona: Percona provides professional consulting, support, and managed services for open-source databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) — a direct comparable in the niche database consulting and support services category, differing primarily in platform focus.
- EnterpriseDB: EnterpriseDB offers consulting, training, and support around PostgreSQL with deep specialization similar to Advanced DataTools' focus on Informix — both monetize deep expertise in a single enterprise database platform through services and tooling.
- Datavail: Datavail is a database managed services and consulting firm supporting Oracle, SQL Server, and other enterprise database platforms — directly comparable as a multi-platform database professional services provider.
- DB Best Technologies: DB Best Technologies provides database consulting, migration, and managed services across multiple enterprise database platforms — comparable in delivering specialized database performance and modernization consulting.
- Ispirer Systems: Ispirer specializes in database migration and modernization services — overlapping with Advanced DataTools' migration/upgrade consulting offering for Informix customers.
- ABCloudz: ABCloudz provides database migration, modernization, and managed services for enterprise database platforms — comparable in scope of database lifecycle professional services.
Broad incumbents
- Quest Software (now part of DELL): Quest is a broad database tools and services incumbent offering performance monitoring, administration, and consulting across many database platforms — overlapping with Advanced DataTools' Informix administration and performance tuning focus but at vastly larger scale.
- IDERA: IDERA provides database administration, performance monitoring, and development tools across SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and other platforms — comparable as a broader database tooling and services incumbent adjacent to Advanced DataTools' niche Informix expertise.
- IBM: IBM is the underlying platform vendor for Informix and offers its own IBM Expert Labs and support services — overlapping with Advanced DataTools' professional services for Informix but as part of IBM's much broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Advanced DataTools social profiles
Digital presenceAdvanced DataTools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Advanced DataTools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Advanced DataTools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Advanced DataTools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Advanced DataTools
What does Advanced DataTools do?
Advanced DataTools is a specialized professional services firm focused exclusively on IBM Informix database technology. The company delivers expert consulting, training, and support services including performance tuning, database administration, migration assistance, and high availability implementations. Operations are built around deep institutional knowledge of the Informix Sysmaster database for monitoring and optimization.
Is Advanced DataTools a public or private company?
Advanced DataTools is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Advanced DataTools founded?
Advanced DataTools was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Advanced DataTools based?
Advanced DataTools is headquartered in Annandale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Advanced DataTools make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are training Services.
Who are Advanced DataTools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are XDB Systems, Inc., Percona, EnterpriseDB, Datavail, DB Best Technologies, Ispirer Systems and ABCloudz. Broad incumbents are Quest Software (now part of DELL), IDERA and IBM.
Does Advanced DataTools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Advanced DataTools.
What industry is Advanced DataTools in?
Advanced DataTools's product category is Database Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAHAE, Advanced Analytics & Data Science Services, with a secondary code of EDABAFAI, Database Administration & Data Engineering (RDBMS/NoSQL, ETL/ELT, Pipelines). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7371.