| 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 |
I have read all of the past notes regarding CINCOM and generally
speaking feel like I have a good handle on the pre-SUPRA (on VAX)
days.
I have an opportunity to push VAX/Rdb as the database of choice for a
Nuclear Power Plant radioactivity monitoring application. Simply
stated, the application tracks the radioactivity levels of employees and
contractors as the enter and leave a nuclear plant. The data is used for
in-house reporting and goverment monitoring.
The current system is eight-ten years old and uses TOTAL. The obvious
thing to do was use CINCOM's updated database software to handle the
solution (the plant wanted the application based on "newer" db
technology--hence our entry). When the customer went off and priced
how much it would cost for the "new" CINCOM database and tools they
blew a fuse. Evidently, it was a very high-cost solution. Now,
because of Rdb's pricing with run-time licenses and all, they are
taking a closer look at us.
I have done one presentation on-site and will be following up with an
additional one after DECWorld. The bottom-line is that they are still
hung-up on how a relational database, namely VAX/Rdb, can acheive
transaction rate performance compared to CINCOM without using a
link-list or hierarchical-type approach. I know Rdb's features pretty
well so I shouldn't have a problem handling this. We CAN provide the
performance AND flexibility that they want but havn't been able to get
from TOTAL. What I don't know is how CINCOM's SUPRA "relational" (?)
database stacks up these days against VAX/Rdb. Is it truly relational?
This account is a lead-in to many other big database opportunities in
an area where THEY HAVE THE BUDGET to spend on the technology. We
just have to show them why their dollars are best spent on VAX/Rdb.
Anyone care to help me out or share experiences concerning dealing
competitively with CINCOM's SUPRA?
b.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 682.1 | A paper comparison might lose | MINDER::PICKERING | Man.United, FA Cup '90 Winners | Fri Jun 29 1990 11:08 | 7 |
SUPRA is supposed to come out as the best implementation of a
relational database according to Codd's 12 (and expanding
exponentially) rules. Also the Butler comparative database studies put
Supra ahead of Rdb/VMS, but then that's only Butler's opinion.
So you wouldn't win on that score ie relational vs relational.
Your best bet is the price, tools that sit on Rdb/VMS, support etc.
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| 682.2 | SHOOT AND THEN ASK QUESTIONS... | SAHQ::ANDERSONB | Fri Jun 29 1990 18:10 | 4 | |
Re: .1 -- Thanks. I'm glad I asked before entering the shooting match.
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| 682.3 | Rdb - Good enough for CINCOM ! | CIMNET::BOURDEAU | Rich Bourdeau CIM Product Marketing | Mon Jul 09 1990 20:20 | 5 |
you might want to bring up the fact that CINCOM announced at their
latest users group (CONTROL-90 in May) That they would be porting
their Control Manufacturing MRP software to Rdb. Rdb must be pretty good,
especially if CINCOM is planning on using it for their MRP software
on VMS.
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| 682.4 | sell Rdb and Digital strengths | TRCA01::MCMULLEN | Tue Jul 31 1990 22:27 | 18 | |
Your customer is getting hung up on marketing messages that do not
solve business problems. Codd's rules are rules, but they do not
solve business problems. I belive it was CINCOM that said they scored
highest on those rules. Rdb also did very well.
Let's get down to reality. What is your customer going to run the
new application on. (Must be a 780 still; if they are running old
compatability mode TOTAL. Is VMS still 4.6). Today's CINCOM products
do not support clusters and apparently do not scale well in the
SMP processors. This may indicate why CINCOM has provided MANTIS
(their development language) with access to Rdb/VMS. Your customer
must be very aware of the quality of CINCOM's products and support.
I find it very hard that they are talking seriously to CINCOM. Almost
all of the old VMS/TOTAL customers in Toronto did not go to native
TOTAL or was it ULTA or was it SUPRA. How serious is CINCOM.
They have just announced the SQL interface.
Digital and Digital products are far superior to CINCOM.
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