Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!sdsu!ncr-sd!otl!randys
From: randys@otl.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Randy Smerik)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: open server/client architectures
Message-ID: <2339@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM>
Date: 11 Jan 90 15:58:21 GMT
References: <1988@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu>
Sender: news@ncr-sd.SanDiego.NCR.COM
Reply-To: randys@otl.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Randy Smerik)
Distribution: na
Organization: NCR Corporation, Rancho Bernardo
Lines: 69

In article <1988@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu> paulf@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu (paul friberg) writes:
>
>
>Does anyone have a feeling for where lies a standard in terms of 
>interfaces to SQL servers?  I understand that Sybase is trying to 
>set a standard with OSF by calling its db_library() an Open Client. 
>Is this true? Does anyone at Sybase have a feeling for where it 
>might be headed? Is there any direction towards an SQL server 
>protocol for data bases as was done for graphics with X windows?
>As I am rather new to this whole business of client/server
>openness I would appreciate any comments or personal inklings on
>the subject. Thanks in advance.
>
>Paul Friberg
> @ Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia Univ.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>Email: 	paulf@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu
>Analog:	(914) 359-2900 x620


 There are two efforts underway.  One concentrates on the protocol across
 the wire:  ISO OSI-RDA.  The other is dedicated to advancing ISO OSI-RDA as
 well as supplying the needed application interfaces: the SQL Access Group.

 Both efforts are described below.  I am active on both the ANSI RDA commit-
 tee (ANSI X3H2.1) and the SQL Access Group.

 ISO OSI RDA
 -----------

 First, there is an ISO standard being developed to address remote database
 access (RDA).  The RDA standard (9579 DP) is part of the OSI Reference
 Model and it resides in layer 7 (application layer).  The ANSI committee
 that takes US positions to the ISO RDA meetings is ANSI X3H2.1 (RDA).

 The purpose of the RDA standard is to solve the problem of remote hetero-
 geneous database access.  RDA is based on the client/server model of
 interaction.  As with the other OSI standards, RDA does not attempt to
 define application programming interfaces (API's).  Instead, it concen-
 trates on specifying the services, message formats, and protocols needed
 for this type of interoperation.

 The RDA standard is comprised of two logical parts:  Generic RDA and RDA
 Specializations.  The Generic RDA standard specifies the operations and
 behaviors that are applicable to virtually all database languages (open
 resource, close resource, execute DBL, etc).  RDA Specializations then
 further clarify the operations and behaviors for a specific database
 language.  Currently, there is only one RDA Specialization being actively
 developed and it is the SQL Specialization.  However, work has just started
 on an ISO IRDS Specialization as well.  

 The SQL Access Group
 --------------------

 The SQL Access Group that recently formed is dedicated to advancing the SQL
 and RDA standards as quickly as possible.  Its goal is to have a working
 prototype demonstration that includes both standards ready by third quarter
 1990.
       
       -------------------------------------------------------
       | |  | |  -- | ---  |  Randy Smerik                   |
       | |\ | | |   | |  ) |  NCR Corp.  Mail Stop 4792      |
       | | \| | |   | |--  |  16550 West Bernardo Drive      |
       | |  | |  -- | |  \ |  San Diego, California 92127    |
       |--------------------  randy.smerik@sandiego.ncr.com  |
       | E & M  San Diego     (619) 485-2084                 |
       | Transaction Management Systems                      |
       -------------------------------------------------------