Slow queries over I-Star

My client needs to transfer selected rows from tables on one machine to another server. I am using SPL. I have tried two approaches and am amazed at the differences in timings: (1) insert into remote_table select * from local_table where <condition>; (2) foreach select * from local_table where <condition> ... ... insert into remote_table values (x,y,z....); end foreach; Approach (1) takes 35 seconds. Approach (2) takes 8 mins 40 seconds without explicit transactions (ie. each insert is its own transaction) and 5 mins 00 secs with the whole procedure in a single transaction. The client favours Approach (2) because it allows the rest of the load to proceed if one or two inserts encounter an error. (yes I know we'll have to be careful to differentiate between kinds of error.) The boxes are connected over X.25. I have no idea how much of the time difference is made up by poor network tuning and how much is inherent in the working of I-Star. I'm using 5.00 and onsoctcp - would 6.00 and relay modules be any quicker? Or is the real ball-and-chain simply X.25? akent@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andy Kent) -------------------------------------