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Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

Title:DEC Rdb against the World
Moderator:HERON::GODFRIND
Created:Fri Jun 12 1987
Last Modified:Thu Feb 23 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1348
Total number of notes:5438

19.0. "Britton-Lee IDM" by MTA::BOWERS (Count Zero Interrupt) Tue Jul 28 1987 19:41

    I've been running into the Britton-Lee Intelligent Data Machine
    (IDM) with increasing frequency.
    
    Does anyone have any meaningful performance data on the IDM vs.
    Rdb?
    
    Also, I know the IDM supports a VAX host and also Metaphor
    workstations. Does anyone know of other front end support for the
    IDM (like the IBM PC)?
    
    Finally, is there any 4GL/query package other than SmartStar that
    offers IDM access?
    
    -dave
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19.1As much as I know....TSG::QIDWAIHmm! What do they know that I dontMon Aug 03 1987 18:4832
    Dont know much about comparative performance or user interfaces etc.,
    but:
    
    The IDM 500 series (at least) sales literature boasts of 'using
    these host computers':
    
    	DEC VAX, with VMS, Unix
    	DEC PDP, with RSX, RSTS
    	IBM 370, 43xx, 308x, 303x with VM-CMS
    	ATT 3B/5, 3B/20
    
    	Prime, Honeywell, Control Data, IBM PC, Apollo, etc. etc.
    
    Apparently, using a multitude of interfaces on the IDM, you can
    connect the same IDM to different hosts at the same time. The
    interfaces include: IEEE-488, RS232C, Ethernet, IBM Block Multiplexer
    channels (is the last one a different type or uses one of the previous
    three ??).
    
    It is not very clear from the literature, although implied, that the
    host-resident software is supplied by B-L.
    
    The RS-300 Series probably offers slightly different capabilities.
    They do mention VMS, RSX, PC-MS/DOS, AOS/VS and 'a wide selection
    of Development Software (4GLs, AI, etc.)'. Again, I presume that
    they supply the latter.
    
    BTW: If you find any interesting info outside this conf, I would
    really appreciate it if you can share it with me. Thanks
    
    Imran
19.2GENERAL INFO IDMTOWNS::MILLSWed Feb 24 1988 01:5022
    The IDM is a backend database machine. It can be hosted by several
    vendor's products. Ours include PDP,VAX,ULTRIX,VMS. In the near
    future it will be an addressable DECNet node (VMS).
    
    There are many products for accessing the Britton Lee. B-L has IDL
    (QUEL),SQL,other tools. HDR Systems has SQL and other tools. Dimension
    has FREEFORM (application generator). All software of this nature
    executes on the host.
    
    The storage capacity is approaching 120G (I would need to check
    this to be certain) I am not sure if I still have copies of benchmarks,
    however, the response of the IDM has never been a problem in my
    experience. The performance problems I have encountered have been
    with the host.
    
    I have worked with IDMs for about 3 years and have frequent contact
    with the company. If you could be more specific about the info needed
    I would be happy to help if I can.
    
    towns::mills or pmills @DCO
    THANKS
    -Pat Mills