ORACLE ON MVS

PM>performance (are the overheads of a SNA network so large as to make PM>response times for a client server setup unusable?) and availability of

No - and you have a choice of SQL*Net 3270 or APPC; obviously, LU6.2/APPC is preferred for PC clients. When you run a 3270, the 'client' piece will run on the host. Overall, Oracle when properly tuned will run as fast as DB/2. Ihaven't seen Adabas since 1982, so I can't compare the two.

The key in designing SQL*Forms (if you don't use Pro*COBOL or Pro*PL/I) is translating much of the popular wisdom in using triggers from character to block mode (for obvious reasons). Having done that, the toolset is quite powerful.

I know of a couple of US MVS Oracle references. On your side of the pond, I believe British Airways is a mainframe Oracle user. Bug your sales reps for references, then have a nice technical chat with them. Since you already know databases, you should be able to work up a comparison (don't forget to have a systems programmer make the same contact)

PM>tools (I gather that there are virtually no Oracle tools which run on
PM>MVS - the only one I have heard of is SQL*QMX - most of the rest would
PM>require a PC in client/server mode at the very least, which I hear is
PM>VERY slow indeed - see above).

Yup, SQL*QMX is it. Re client-server tools, it all depends on the gateway. Client-server can't speed up a network, after all; it just gives you more processing options.

hth -

jh

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. MR/2 1.39x NR . OS/2'ing it big-time!!