Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!uunet!indetech!vsi1!octel!jfd
From: jfd@octel.UUCP (John F. Detke)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Informix queries: raw partitions, price support
Keywords: Informix, raw, support
Message-ID: <461@octelb.octel.UUCP>
Date: 24 Apr 91 21:36:12 GMT
Organization: Octel Communications Inc., Milpitas Ca.
Lines: 36


Hello,

We are trying to setup an Informix DB on a SPARCstation. Has anyone had any
better luck with the Informix non-support line? Waiting 20 minutes on hold to
talk to a decidedly non-UNIX support person is frustrating at best. Anyhow,
our current problem is: Informix wants to chmod and chgrp informix /dev/rsd0d
in order to use raw partitions. Why the heck do they have set-uid root programs
then? The DBA wants the speed improvements, but I am reluctant to open up /dev
like this. Am I being too paranoid? It doesn't help that the first instal
the DBA did this (Having temporary root access) and promptly wrote over the disk
label. How do other sysadmins handle raw partition access?

Also: if Informix is listening: How the hell do you justify pricing Informix
on a 4/490 $20,000 (or more, depending on who we talk to) more than on a
SPARCstation II? I KNOW the code is the same! The SPARC II is arguably faster
than a 4/490, but of course the 4/490 (should) handle heavy I/O better (but
at $20,000 more I can buy another Sparc II with 1GB disk).    
Oh, and please replace the person writing your install scripts. I am getting sick
of re-writting them properly.

Can anyone recommend a DB that handles bin files that is saner than Informix?
I would love to buy a reasonable & supported product.

Please use email, I will summarize if there is interest.

Thanks,
jfd

-- 
John F. Detke
Octel Communications Corp
890 Tasman Drive
M/S 05-04
Milpitas CA 95035
jfd@octel.com