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The new version of the software includes a new “self-tuning technology” which allows DBGeneral to adapt itself to the symmetrical multiprocessor capabilities of HP 3000 systems with multiple processors. Self-tuning takes advantage of any extra power in Series 9x9 and Emerald-class systems configured with more than one processor. According to HP database R&D manager Jerry Fochtman, the new design “allows DBGeneral users from the smallest systems to the largest multi-processor systems to fully utilize their hardware investment when managing their database environment.”

The software also employs a new, redesigned path reconstruction technology, said to provide significant performance improvements in path add/rebuild processes by utilizing the self-tuning technology. Bradmark officials said customers testing the software could rebuild the path to a 36 million-entry detail set in just under 6 hours on a Series 959/400.

Fochtman said DBGeneral’s 7.2 version provides a solution for addressing database management tasks which go beyond HP’s current 4-Gb file size limitations. “Users can now add or rebuild very large search paths (sorted or unsorted) without concern as to the volume of data involved,” Fochtman said.

“The technology we’ve developed is specific to our needs for providing features in support of very large databases,” Fochtman explained. ”We have discussed it with HP’s File System team, jointly concluding that our approach does not address all the issues they are working to resolve. It does, however, provide DBGeneral the ability to manage very large amounts of data and work areas efficiently so product features can be applied to any size database.”

The software’s master capacity change feature now includes new algothrims for the intelligent placement of secondary entries. Fochtman explained that “this provides enhanced application retrieval performance for master datasets.”

DBGeneral also provides a new detail dataset capacity management process which reduces downtime for detail capacity changes and disk space requirements for those changes. Higher-speed detail reorganization is employed for compressing a detail set, removing the delete chain and lowering the high-water mark.

Bradmark has moved DBGeneral’s structural change capability completely into Native Mode in the new release. Fochtman said early test results showed adding an item on a customer’s 65 million-entry detail set took 26 minutes of elapsed time on a 995/400. The new self-tuning technology has also been employed on native mode detail dataset reblocking capability.
DBGeneral gains new on-line and batch interfaces for Netbase/Shareplex users with the 7.2 release. The interfaces include the ability to confirm the setup prior to initiating any changes which might cause a desynchronization of master and slave databases.

A new 4.8 option validates date formats in preparation for Year 2000 conversions. Fochtman said Bradmark’s Year 2000 features will provide for validating a large range of supported formats as well as user-definable signal/special dates. “What we do in validation is go through the steps of converting the date, but we do not change the database,” Fochtman said. Users can see how the converted date will appear in the 7.2 version, with an ability to view a sample of the end results. The new validating feature is available to all DBGeneral customers.

DBGeneral’s date conversion process, a part of the new structural change technology, is in alpha testing. Customers interested in participating in beta testing DBGeneral’s date conversion features are encouraged to contact Bradmark.

The 7.2 version of DBGeneral also includes full support of the new b-tree features of IMAGE/SQL; support for jumbo datasets and features which allow users to control the sizes of individual chunk files within a jumbo set; and the ability to save and restore SQLViews in addition to the SQL attach information. Users also have the option to obtain a command file containing this information for use in replicating their SQL environment on other systems.

Bradmark said it plans to begin shipping the new version to customers under current maintenance support on March 2. DBGeneral’s tier-based prices start at $1,500. Product maintenance costs, including 24x7 technical support, begin at $300 a year.