Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

108.0. "30 heavy Rdb users on a 780." by DUB01::GOODMAN () Thu Mar 31 1988 14:39

From : Brendan Goodman, DEC Dublin,  IRELAND, DUB01::GOODMAN
    
    This note contains a description of a major Rdb project which DEC Dublin
have implemented for the Irish Government.
It does not contain competitive information as such, but we have found the
site incredibly useful in fighting off Oracle & Ingres.
In fact, we have recently won a real battle with Oracle & Ingres based on
our achievements during this project.

We won the battle by showing:

	a. That, when the Database is well designed, Rdb performs
	   superbly.

	b. That DEC have the ability to carry out first class Database
	   design.
	
	c. That Rdb integrates fully with our 4GL AND OLTP offerings.

                                              
The Government Dept concerned, the Dept of Environment, have agreed to act
as a reference site - provided it is not too time consuming.

All queries re using this a reference site should be directed to
DUB01::GOODMAN.



			DOE HOUSING GRANTS SYSTEM
			-------------------------

1. Summary.

   	The Department of Environment (DOE) Housing Grants Computer
   	System went live on Monday 16 November 1987.

	This System processes all applications for Housing Grants in 
	Ireland.
	
	This is the first major implementation of a Relational 
	Database System on a VAX in Ireland. The System handles
	30 users in a busy Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) 
	Environment.

	The System has been implemented on a Digital VAX 11/780 
	Computer using Digitals State of the Art Rdb/VMS
	Relational Database Management System.

	The Project was undertaken by Digital Equipment Irl Ltd
	on a Turnkey basis. All phases of the project, from
	Functional Specification, through Database Design to
	full implementation were carried out by the Digital Team
	of Software Specialists.


2.  Description of the Computer System.

	Hardware:	

		VAX 11/780 	Computer

		3 x RP07 500 MBYTE Disks

		12 Mbyte Memory


	Software:

		Rdb/VMS 2.2, 
		ACMS 2.1, 
		TDMS 1.7, 
		COBOL
		

	Databases:

		Four Databases have been designed and implemented


		Database 1:  Main Database with 56 relations size 300 Mbytes

		Database 2:  Database with 6 relations 	     size 200 Mbytes

		Database 3:  Database with 6 relations 	     size 20 Mbytes

		Database 4:  Database with 1 relation 	     size 20 Mbytes



3.  Development of the  Computer System

    a.  Introduction

	The Project was undertaken by Digital Equipment Irl Ltd
	on a Turnkey basis. All phases of the project, described 
	below, were carried out by the Digital Team of Software 
	Specialists.

		- Functional Specification

		- Database Design

		- Functional Design

		- Access Path Analysis

		- Program Specifications

		- Program Development & Implementation

		- System Testing



    b.  Tools and Methodologies used in the development.

	Project Management:

		Digitals Computerised Project Management System (DPM)
		was used.

	System Design

		Digitals Database Design Methology (DDDM) was used.
		(Developed in the Dublin Office).		

		DDDM is a 'core' Database Design Methodology which has been 
		used successfully on this project. It is an easy to use 
		methodology designed to produce WORKING databases with the
		most realistic cost/benefit ratio. It is NOT an all bells & 
		whistles methodology .
		


4. Performance Specifications.

	It is important to realise that the 780 is EASILY supporting
	30 SIMULTANOUS active ACMS Tasks, some of which are very 
	complex.

	This has been achieved by very, very, very careful design of
	the Databases and the ACMS servers.
	
	There are 44 terminals using the System.

	I have been off the site for some time now and have been 
	trying to get the customer to measure some detailed performance
	figures for various types of transactions. 
	I hope to have these figures after Easter and will include 
	them as a reply to this note.

	Some overall figures follow:
	
	No of users:	30

	Transaction Mix:	45% Update.	55% Query

	Transaction throughput:

	The System was degigned to support 2,500 Transaction exchanges 
	per hour. Until we upgrade to Rdb 2.3, we do not know the 
	exact no of trans per hour.

	Reponse times: 

	Average 1-2 secs with 30 users. More detailed  info after 
	Easter.