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From: ben@shalom.sybase.com (ben ullrich)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: Looking for Info on Stratus Computer
Message-ID: <10639@sybase.sybase.com>
Date: 23 Aug 90 23:03:37 GMT
References: <666@aut.UUCP>
Sender: news@Sybase.COM
Organization: sybase, inc., emeryville, ca
Lines: 27

fyi, stratus VOS is an entirely proprietary operating system.  there is a
layered product of sorts called usf in which you can run unix on top of VOS.
each user can get into it with usf_on; it needn't be the only mode for the
whole system.

stratus is nice in its fault-tolerant, duplexed, symmetric
multiprocessor design (yes, all in one architecture!).  most all boards
can be duplexed, as disks normally are.  i've seen operators walk up to one of
our stratus machines, pull out a memory board, and all that happens is
a message appears on the console saying 'memory board extracted.'
nothing happens to the system otherwise.  if a board fails, the machine
calls stratus itself, and has a repair person dispatched to your pad
within hours.  wild stuff.  it even has batteries that keep memory
active after power failure.  when power returns, the disks are spun up
and processing continues from where it left off.

as for databases, i'm not sure if informix runs on stratus.  i know
sybase does.  stratus is actually one of the first platforms we ported
to, a few years ago, and is the first platform upon which the SMP SQL Server
is being released.


..ben
----
ben ullrich			only i do the talking here -- not my employer.
sybase, inc., emeryville, ca		``jail neil bush, not the homeless.''
ben@sybase.com			       {pyramid,pacbell,sun,lll-tis}!sybase!ben