Relational database vendor Informix Software Inc, Menlo Park, California, made a series of announcements last week, including the addition of Informix NET-PC, a network module which enables the Informix user interface on MS-DOS boxes to communicate with Unix database servers across TCP/IP networks. It enables applications to be off-loaded onto personal computers, with the Unix machine used as a database server. Informix NET-PC can be used only via TCP/IP protocols provided by Sun Microsystems’ PC Network File System, over Ethernet or RS-232C lines – cost is $200 per MS-DOS machine. Informix is also mounting a campaign to penetrate the Xenix market, having sold distribution rights for its Smart software range to British Olivetti for UKP1m. Unix and networking versions of Smart are now available, as well as those for MS-DOS and Xenix – all have the same user interface. And the Informix-Turbo transaction processing database engine, running a TP1 benchmark test, is claimed to have achieved the highest number of transactions per second recorded to date on a Unix based supermicro: 126 on a 16-processor parallel Symmetry system from Sequent Computer Systems Inc, Portland, Oregon. On the basis of this, Informix has announced a money back Turbo Performance Guarantee that Informix Turbo will run a Unix transaction processing database application faster than any other database engine. The latest version of Informix Turbo is scheduled for release in the second quarter of this year. Informix also has a new managing director – Jerry Goldman, formerly managing director with Cullinet Software – replacing Ken Coultier who has moved to take control of Informix’s European operation. Goldman is promising the arrival of new products that will exploit the integration of database and large objects such as text and graphics.
