Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

    I could use a SYBASE price list
    
    Thanks,
    
    Rich

    The rumours are true. Sybase has re-organized in Canada. The head of
    Sybase Canada is longer with them as well as many sales and software
    people.
    
    My contact was relatively new to Sybase, and did not tell me too many
    secrets that we did not already know.
    
    - Tools are still weak, complex applications still can not be done in
    Sybase tools. My friend was an ex-Cognos person, and he feels
    Powerhouse is far superior.
    
    - SMP support still not there. It is doubtful it will be there in the
    near future due to all the layoffs within SYBASE.
    
    - No "true" cluster support - DO ALL BENCHMARKS IN A CLUSTER USING SMP
    MACHINES.
    
    - PC support is non-existent. All PC applications must be written in C
    and use library calls to get data across the network (sounds similiar
    to SQL/Services). The tools do not work on MS-DOS PCs.
    
    - 2PC support, we were into too many beers and I still can't tell you
    if the SYBASE 2PC works like ours, and I am not sure my friend
    understands 2PC sober.  
    
    - Stored Procedures are still a strong point, but are hard to support.
    Also when the first user uses a procedure, the optimization is done,
    and all other users benefit (in Rdb the first time each user executes a
    transaction there is a performance hit because of the extra work). This
    is usually beneficial, but in a 24x7 application, with a very active
    database (adds, deletes) the SYBASE optimizer may be using the wrong
    method to retrieve the data. Could be used to our benefit in a
    benchmark.
    
    - sorry no price list, A Canadian price list would not be
    helpful to most of you anyway.
    
    Any more questions, I will be seeing this person again.

    More questions?  Yeah, how many beers did you have?
    
    But seriously, Ken, ask your buddy about security features, like what
    are they doing, planning and scheming in the security arena.
    
    
    
    
    cheers
    kmh
    

    THe latest edition of Digital Review (November 5, 1990) has a story
    starting on page 9 about SYBASE winning a contract with the U.S. Army
    for the Army's Worldwide Military Command and Control Information
    System.  It says they'll run it on SEVMS.
    
    The article says they chose Sybase "because of Sybase's client/server 
    architecture and multiuser support" according to some Col. Prosnik.
    
    He says that they're the only ones with such features.  I know that we
    entered into an agreement to market Sybase's secure DBMS on the VAX. 
    Isn't that the real reason they chose SYBASE?  The article goes on to 
    say that the Army has a large investment in VAX Systems.  And Sybase has 
    the only secure database for VMS, right?  Those sound like better
    reasons.  I mean, come on! Multiuser is sooooo special?
    

    Are you sure it said "multiuser" and not "multi-level"?  This project
    went with Sybase because they needed the mandatory access control
    functionality present in a multi-level secure database.  At the present
    time, Sybase is the only vendor offering such a product.

Sybase may be the only vendor offering a "multilevel secure" database.

Is *anyone* actually shiping one?  Offering is only part of the story.

Sybase, after all, also claims that their product is in use *today* by
the Military Airlift Command for its GDSS (Global Decision Support System),
a claim which is verifiably false... 

JPB

    I don't understand .-1.  Are you saying that Sybase is _not_ shipping a
    B1-compliant database product today?  

       <<< Note 779.7 by NOVA::WASSERMAN "Deb Wasserman, DTN 264-1863" >>>
                             -< Sybase shipping? >-

>>    I don't understand .-1.  Are you saying that Sybase is _not_ shipping a
>>    B1-compliant database product today?  

I believe that Sybase offers a Unix B1 product today, but I am not certain.
I was, for 3 years, associated with a US Air Force project that used, and
still uses, Rdb.  A Multi-level Secure prototype program has been proceeding
in parallel with that project for some time, with expectations that Sybase
would be providing a suitable MLS database, either Unix or VMS.

Notwithstanding prototypes under development, Sybase advertisements have 
indicated that operation Desert Shield in general, and the Military Airlift
Command in particular, depend on Sybase on a daily basis.

Poppycock.  Bushwa.  Eyewash.  Or, as I said in .5, "verifiably false".

Bear in mind that I am not close to the database effort, so I can't speak
to the issue of Sybase security capabilities point-for-point.  But I know
what product is underlying the installed system, and I think I know the
future of the installed system, and the customer's expectations for the 
Sybase product, at the very least, exceeded the actual capabilities 
that have been delivered to date.

If you have a need for detailed information about actually using Sybase
in a secure environment, I know the names of some of the Digital players
here, and if you send me VAXmail I will connect you.  I would rather not
post their names without their permission.

JPB

Subj:	 CIS DELIVERS ... Sybase Inc. offers 3,677,000 shares of common stock / 




 -----       Sybase Inc. offers 3,677,000 shares of  
|C I S|      common stock /                
 -----  
             Source : Business Wire              Date : 13-AUG-91



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EMERYVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sybase Inc. announced Tuesday 
the initial public offering of 3,677,000 shares of its common stock at 
a price of $13.50 per share.

Of the total, 2,494,060 shares were offered by Sybase and 1,182,940 
shares were offered by selling stockholders.  The shares will be traded 
on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol SYBS.

Sybase has also granted to the underwriters of the public offering 
an option to purchase up to an additional 551,550 shares to cover 
over-allotments, if any.  Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers and 
Hambrecht & Quist Inc. are managers of the underwriting group.

The net proceeds from the offering will be used for general 
corporate purposes, including repayment of indebtedness and working 
capital.

Sybase develops, markets and supports a full line of relational 
database management software products and services for on-line 
applications in networked computing environments. 

Sybase introduced the first high performance relational database 
management system (``RDBMS'') designed specifically for the 
clientserver 
architecture is the most technologically advanced. 

Sybase offers a broad range of RDBMS servers, application 
development tools and connectivity software and complements this 
product portfolio through its SQL Solutions subsidiary by providing 
comprehensive consulting and integration services required to support 
enterprise-wide on-line applications.

Copies of the prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained 
from Goldman, Sachs & Co., 85 Broad St., New York, N.Y. 10004; Lehman 
Brothers, American Express Tower, World Financial Center, New York, 

                                                  

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 -----       Sybase Inc. offers 3,677,000 shares of         | 13-AUG-91
|C I S|      common stock /                                 | Business Wire
 -----       

N.Y. 10285-1700; or Hambrecht & Quist Inc., One Bush St., 18th Floor,
San Francisco, Calif. 94104.

-0-

Note to Editors:  This news release shall not constitute an offer 
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any 
sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation 
or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under 
the securities laws of any such state.








































                                                  

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