Oracle has ended a high-profile partnership with HP as it prepares to acquire Sun Microsystems.

Apparently Sun and Oracle have jointly developed a second-generation version of a specialised database computer, dubbed Exadata. The first version was designed by Oracle and HP.

Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison unveiled the new machine on Tuesday, almost a year after he announced his company's entry into the hardware business with help from HP. At the time, he said that HP would be a key ally in that effort.

The new Exadata computer is the first of what Ellison has said will be many products that link Sun's hardware with Oracle's software. During the company's most recent earnings call, Ellison said that it was one of the most successful products he had launched since he founded Oracle. HP must be gutted.