Cincom Systems Inc yesterday launched Version 2 of its Supra relational database management system. The new version is designed to provide the foundations for distributed database management by offering full portability across IBM, DEC and Unix hardware, with eventual support and hypermanagement of VSAM, Supra Version 1, RMS, DB2, SQL/DS and IMS databases. New features include two-phased commit, transaction partnering, a distributed locking mechanism, a global/local process concept, and transparency between ASCII and EBCDIC. Performance gains are also claimed via row-level locking, parallel disk multi threading, input-output processing, and 24-hour operation. The first release will be for DOS/VSE, VM, and VMS operating systems, and Supra Version 1, VSAM and RMS databases. UK prices will go from UKP300,000 for large MVS sites to UKP30,000 in the DEC MicroVAX. Supra 2 will be available in the UK in six months.
