Informix Product Architecture v. Oracle 7 (and others)

Hello to all you architecture folks . . . I'm trying to compare the components of Oracle and Informix (I'll add Sybase for interest's sake, but Oracle and Informix are my focus for now). The example requirements: one or more MS Windows PCs communicating over TCP/IP with two or more Unix servers running the DBMS server. The PCs have a client/server relationship (ie. no data on the PCs) with the DBMS. The two DBMSs jointly provide transactional services (ie. distributed queries and distributed updates via two phase commit). I'm well aware of the performance implications of this distributed DBMS environment. I'm really trying to find out about the products specifically. If there are major differences in how Oracle and Informix will support this setup, please reply. Otherwise a product architecture confirmation/discussion is sufficient. Using Oracle one would require: PC UNIX 1 Unix 2 APP ORACLE7 ORACLE7 Distributed Option Distributed Option Procedural Option Procedural Option ORACLE SQL*Net ORACLE SQL*Net ORACLE SQL*Net ORACLE SQL*Net ORACLE SQL*Net ORACLE SQL*Net for TCP/IP for TCP/IP for TCP/IP OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers the Procedural Option is not required for the requirements described above, but it is required for functional comparison with Informix and Sybase. Using Informix one would require: PC UNIX 1 Unix 2 APP Informix DBMS Informix DBMS Informix-Net Informix-Star Informix-Star OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers I'm confident on the Oracle side (although on some platforms SQL*Net and SQL*Net for TCP/IP are bundled into one product). My major question relates to the Informix side. Are any other products required, such as a version of Informix-Net for the Unix servers? For completeness, let's add Sybase. Others feel free to add Ingres or others if you like. PC UNIX 1 Unix 2 APP Sybase SQL Server Sybase SQL Server Sybase DB-LIB Sybase NET-LIB for TCP/IP OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers My understanding is that although one doesn't require the DB-LIB or NET-LIB code on the Unix side, that there may be a licensing issue(?). Further, I understand that with System 10, DB-LIB is actually implemented as a layer over the new CT-LIB (which includes server side cursor support). Oh, why not Ingres . . . PC UNIX 1 Unix 2 APP Ingres DBMS Ingres DBMS Knowledge Mgmt Option Knowledge Mgmt Option Ingres/Star Ingres/Star Ingres/Net Ingres/Net Ingres/Net OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers OS TCP/IP drivers I think that knowledge mgmt is bundled with either 6.4 or 6.5 of the Ingres DBMS. Also, does anyone know if Ingres/Star is required on every DBMS node or just on one?