Groupe Bull SA has enhanced its DPS 6000 proprietary minicomputer systems with improved communications, distributed database capability and new peripherals. An XCP co-processor operating under Unix provides TCP/IP functionality, and the latest release of the GCOS 6 operating system is said to offer substantial performance improvements. As part of its Distributed Computing Model strategy, the GCOS 6 family now provides SQL/Net, Informix-Net, Distributed Data Access and Open Software/TP, and these offer transparent access to distributed databases. Also, Bull has added a 525Mb tape streamer unit which is fully compatible in both read and write mode. The company is claiming that the new communication functionality and XCP processors provide improved price performance, and the 18 models range between $7,000 and $250,000.
