From: davidm@meaddata.com (David Miller)
Subject: Re: Reference material on Tuxedo (OLTP application)
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 13:05:41 GMT
Distribution: usa

In article <16pL03EL4aJQ00@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com>, phani@uts.amdahl.com (Phani Bodduluri) writes:
|> 
|> Hi --
|> 
|> It looks like I'll live with Tuxedo for next few months in my new
|> group. I follow this group with lot of interest, and the discussion
|> is more interesting, compared to other groups that deal with relational
|> databases.
|> 
|> I'd appreciate if you provide any info. either on net or send me email 
|> regarding the following:
|> 
|> 1. Are there any good references that explain Tuxedo(better than what
|>    AT&T manuals do ??!!)
|> 

I don't know of any...

|> 2. Do you think Tuxedo is ultimate solution in commercial applications??
|> 

Ultimate?  Is there such a thing?  Tuxedo provides a transaction processor
environment for terminals and a client/server environment.  It is available
on many platforms and provides interoperability with several data bases.
I personally think it is a little limited in that it is very static in its
definition (all nodes must know of all other nodes, and system must be
brought down to add new nodes etc. - based on my knowledge of rel 4)

|>   (Personally, I believe that Oracle or Sybase will be more successful
|>    in real world due to the facts such as availability of more powerful
|>    tools to insert and retrieve info. from databases, backup etc.,. I was
|>  kind of biased towards Oracle, since it was my ex-employer !!)
|> 

The data base products provide a little different environment than the TP
products.  The split between client and server applications is usually at the
SQL level for the DB products.  User code down to SQL in client, with DB code
in server.  For the TP products, there are applications in the server (and
possibly in the client).  DB environment is easier, but has its limitations.
First, splitting applications at the SQL level often requires additional
traffic between the client and server which is bad for networks.  Seconding,
the client must know quite a bit about the database layout.  In the TP
environment, you would see an application supported service, such as 
debit an account, that would require a single interaction with the client
instead of the client issueing multiple SQL requests.  However, the TP 
environment requires more coding and is harder to design.

Please note that stored procedures are one method the database vendors are
using to provide more application intelligence in the servers.

|> 3. Any ref. sources to read about differences between TOPEND and TUXEDO
|>    I think TOPEND is NCR's and TUXEDO is AT&T's products.
|> 

I think there are the articles out, but they are mainly marketing BS.
Currently, there are 3 TP products in the UNIX area (plus CICS stuff and
the DB stuff): Tuxedo, TOP END, and Encina.  

Tuxedo was developed at USL (formerly USO?) as a client/server tool, and
added distributed TX support in Release 4.  Tuxedo is the the most widely
available monitor, as many hardware vendors have ported the USL source to
their platforms.  IMHO, Tuxedo has the weakest core technology though.

TOP END is a new product from NCR that runs primarily on NCR's hardware.  It
is available in source form, but other vendors have been slow to line up to
port it.  NCR has announced it is being proted to Sun and other platforms.
IMHO, TOP END has a solid core technology, but has proprietary application
interfaces.  Its biggest problem is the single vendor.  When ATT bought NCR,
both TOP END and Tuxedo were analyzed, and the combined computer organization
chose TOP END as the strategic TP monitor.

Encina is Transarc's TP system.  It has a toolkit approach, offering many 
pieces.  Encina is based on DCE.  It uses DCE RPC as the primary communications
mechinism.  If your strategy calss for DCE, Encina is the only choice
currently (TOP END promises DCE support in the future).  IMHO, Encina has
a strong core technology, and one of its biggest strengths - DCE - is also
one of its biggest weaknesses.  DCE is brand new, and not the most stable of
software.

|> 
|> Thanks alot 
|> 
|> Have a nice day.
|> ----
|> phani
|> 
|> Commercial Applications Test Group		phani@uts.amdahl.com
|> Amdahl Corporation				Phone: 408 737 5776 (off)
|>    

Now that I've made comments on 3 products, and both positive and negative, 
I'll put on the asbestos and wait for the flames!  All of the above is my
opinion and does not represent the opinion of MDC!      

-- 
David James Miller                        Architecture&Systems Evolution
Mead Data Central, B6F3                   (513) 865-7441
PO Box 933                                davidm@meaddata.com
Dayton Ohio 45401                         I speak for me, not MDC