Re: DSA vs Online Workgroup

} I think even Workgroup Server is part of Informix's DSA engines. } As far as I have understood the Workgroup Servers difference from the } traditional OnLine server is that Workgroup Servers do not support } multiple CPU's at all. That is you can not set MULTIPROCESSOR to } anything but 0 (may be it isn't even in the configuration file?). } } Otherwise everything is the same in the engine itself, connectivity } and so on. New tools and other things from WorkGroup Server will } probably be available for the full OnLine server (whatever they call } it) as well. The differences between OnLine Workgroup Server and OnLine DSA on Windows NT are: OnLine Workgroup Server ----------------------- - No parallel data query - No data partitioning - Max number of data buffers = 68,000 (278 MB if using 4K page size) - Max number of dbspaces = 1,047 - Not for use on systems with more than 4 processors. OnLine DSA ---------- - Supports parallel data query - Supports data partitioning - Max number of data buffers = 768,000 (3,145 MB if using 4K page size) - Max number of dbspaces = 2,047 - For use on systems with unlimited processors. -- Regards, Walter S. Tyszka (wstyszka@ingr.com) * Standard disclaimers apply * } } This sure makes a big difference and both products are still } interesting for different customers/sites. I don't think a single } processor versus a multi processor engine is an artificial } differentiator. On the contrary it is a way for Informix to be able to } follow the downgoing trend of software prices without loosing out at } the high end and the fact that you can charge higher prices there. } } After some time (in a year or two perhaps) I think even the low end } engines will have to support multiple CPU's, but that is another } story. } } SE is definitely on it's way out, although it will surely be supported } for a long time yet. } } } batonnet@zeta.org.au (Bryan Tonnet) wrote: } } :I recently saw a brief demo of Online Workgroup. I was duly impressed, } :but wondered at the future of both DSA and SE. From the questions I } :asked, it seemed that Online Workgroup had all the DB Engine features of DSA } :(in fact, we were told that essentially it *was* the DSA engine). } } :Given that, what possible reason is there for recommending (and } :purchasing) DSA? Online Workgroup is priced below DSA and has an } :apparently full feature set. In my mind, a new installation would have } :great difficulty choosing DSA over Online Workgroup. A few reasons } :that DSA might be considered; } } :1) Online Workgroup is not ported to Unix } : - but will be soon, so that will go away in the short term. } } :2) Site still has terminal only access. This may be valid, but if we are } :talking "new" installation, it's unlikely. } } :3) Existing applications using DSA (or SE). Again, there may be an } :administrative plus to using the existing infrastructure, but } :connectivity tools can minimise the risk and Online Workgroup could still be } :a better alternative ($$$ could go either way in this instance.) } } :Not great arguments you'll agree. Informix has even tried to } :differentiate the products by imposing the artificial constraint of a } :ceiling on the hardware for Online Workgroup. This is the dual } :(or was it quad) processor maximum on which Online Workgroup can be } :installed. The "Intel only" part is just a matter of the initial port, but } :the processor maximum is surely cosmetic. } } :Assuming there is no technical reason for the restriction, is it } :Informix's way of squeezing the last breath from DSA (and certainly } :SE) before other ports of Online Workgroup are available? } } :Should we all be putting our DSA/SE manuals on the bottom shelf of the } :bookcase (the one where most of the collective dust is kept) and } :enrolling in Online Workgroup courses? } } :No critism of Informix intended here, just an interesting (I think) point } :of discussion. } } } :Bryan Tonnet } :batonnet@zeta.org.au } } Nils.Myklebust@idg.no <- New E-mail adress } NM Data AS, P.O.Box 9090 Gronland, N-0133 Oslo, Norway } My opinions are those of my company }