John, you wrote :

> As far as HP9000 models are concerned and according to HP's
> website, they
> are now only offering PA-8700 models with a minimum clock
> speed of 650MHz
> (rp2430 or rp2405)  --  the rp2400 with PA-8500 is not shown
> (at least I
> did not see it).  Besides, I think it is only appropriate to compare
> effective clock speeds between machines with the same processor.  I
> therefore stand by my observations about the low-end comparisons.

That's where we may have regional differences. I still can see the 440 MHz
rp2400 (ak.a. A400), though probably not for long.

> I agree that TurboImage is going to be faster than the Oracle's of the
> world, but what is wrong with that?  If a non-relational
> database works
> better for an application and gives better performance, than
> why not take
> advantage of it?

I sure don't see a problem there !!!

> I think the MPE/iX Transaction Manager is also superior to
> the equivalent
> (such as it is) in HP-UX and also accounts for some of the performance
> difference.

I wholeheartedly agree with your remark about XM. I am a staunch defender of
this outstanding piece of software. While it may look as a gas factory when
you delve into its internals, it is probably one of the best features of
MPE, and the one that ensures physical (and logical, with dynamic
transactions) data integrity.

XM is probably HP's best-kept secret. Almost no one is aware it exists. Even
HP's decision-makers.

> The fact that MPE/iX is aware of Image also
> helps.  HP-UX has
> no idea what a database is.

Neither has MPE. XM is an MPE feature that ensures MPE data integrity. The
fact that it includes TurboImage is a coincidence. And, may I say, a very
fortunate one.

> In addition, the MPE file system has the
> ability to spread data over several disc drives which is more
> responsive
> than the UNIX approach (even with more than 1 drive in a
> volume group).

Well, LVM (or VxVM, or whatever it is now called) is a decent piece of
software. I would not count it "against" HP-UX. Probably more tricky to
master than MPE's own Volume Management, but good stuff anyway.


Christian "What ? Another XM Enthusiast left ?" Lheureux

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