Sybase Inc describes its new 4.0 release of the Sybase SQL Server as the first open relational database, claiming that with the new Sybase Open Server communications product, it uniquely enables users to develop on-line applications that span multiple servers; integrate data and functionality from non-Sybase sources; and provides a generic communication mechanism between clients and servers. In particular, the company is claiming a first for the fact that users can make SQL queries on remote data transparently through the SQL Server. Server-to-server communication is implemented through Sybase’s database remote procedure calls, and Sybase says that these differ from other such calls in providing high level support for accessing and retrieving tabular data. Developers, it says, no longer need to know the database design at the remote location; they need to know only how to use a database remote procedure. The Sybase Open Server, that includes a server application programming interface that facilitates the integration of non-Sybase data, applications and application services with Sybase, and complements the existing Sybase Open Client. Sybase is licensing its open client and server interfaces and the communications protocol between them to other vendors in both object and source form, and is proposing them to the Open Software Foundation as a standard for client-server communications. Companies supporting the interfaces include Lotus Development Corp and Ashton-Tate Corp, both Sybase shareholders, and Microsoft Corp, NeXT Inc, Novell Inc, Pyramid Technology, Stratus Computer, Tandem Computers and MIPS Computer Systems Inc. Sybase also announced two versions of Open Client for the Apple Computer Inc Macintosh, and versions of the Sybase system for the Hewlett-Packard HP9000 300 and 800 Series, the AT&T 3B2 and 6386, and the IBM RT. Sybase Version 4.0 is in production release on all Sun Microsystems machines, and is in beta test under VAX/VMS, with all other supported systems to be available in first quarter 1990. It’s
3,000 to $192,000, Open Server object code is $800 to $40,000. Number 1,277
