IBM has found a role for the AS/400 in the Unix world, designating the machine as a database server for its AIX Unix customers on the RT and successors. The new AIX Viaduct for AS/400, announced this week, provides an interactive data bridge that enables RT users to integrate their AIX applications with AS/400 databases. Using the interactive LU6.2 APPC protocol, the bridge provides for connection of AIX and OS/400 environments through SQL. The AS/400 end of the thing costs $5,000 to $13,750 according to the size of the AS/400, and the RT end of the bridge is $250 per workstation.It will be available December 8 in the US.
