Apollo Database Server™ Explained

This document provides detailed information on various aspects of the Apollo Database Server. A detailed Frequently Asked Questions document (FAQ) is also available for download and is available to read on-line. These two documents provide excellent information to customers considering using Apollo database technology in their applications. This document is divided into the following sections:

• Introduction
• System Requirements
• Unlimited Deployment
• Native Internet and LAN Support
• Novell NLM
• Competing Products
• SQL Support
• Apollo Local Engines
• Development History

Introduction

Apollo Database Server is full-featured, high-performance SQL client/server DBMS. The Apollo Server allows developers to easily create and deploy true client/server database applications that work on LANs, Intranets and even on the Internet with no additional modules to buy.

"Zero Administration" means a database administrator is not required to manage the Apollo Database Server. Far from it, in fact. Also, in-depth knowledge of SQL is not required to use Apollo Database Server. And best of all, Apollo technology is highly affordable. The Apollo Database Server was designed and built to be an the worlds best alternative to high-priced database servers on the market today.

Using any of the Apollo engines, such as Apollo VCL, Apollo OLE DB, Apollo Data Control, developers can build Apollo client applications using Delphi, C++Builder, Visual Basic, Visual C++ and many other development tools and languages. Apollo allows developers to build powerful stand-alone database applications, peer-to-peer applications and applications that connect to the Apollo Database Server in a true client/server configuration - all from the same set of code!

Apollo Database Server is royalty-free, meaning you purchase the server once and you may deploy it an unlimited number of times with no additional costs! In addition to this, the 2-User edition of the Apollo Server is free!

• 2-User Edition (FREE) - supports 2 concurrent application connections.
• Unlimited User Edition ($349) - Unlimited server deployments! Each server supports an unlimited number of concurrent client application connections.

System Requirements

Apollo Database Server is an application that can be deployed on a Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista computer. The Apollo server can run on Windows 95 and Windows 98, however the threading model in Windows 95 and Windows 98 is not efficient and prevents Apollo Server from operating at optimal speed. The Apollo Server NT service can run on any edition of Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista.

It is highly recommended that Apollo Database Server be deployed on a server-class machine running Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista equipped with solid processing power (i.e. PIII 500) and lots of memory (i.e. 128Meg RAM). The actual requirements for Apollo Database Server to operate are significantly lower, however, serious performance gains can be achieved simply by using respectable hardware.

Unlimited Deployment

All Apollo Database Servers are now freely deployable. Meaning, you can redistribute the Apollo Database Server freely. The deployment process requires that the Apollo Database Server be installed onto the the computer to which it will run on. There is no additional registration required.

Native Internet and LAN Support

Apollo Database Server is 100% Internet ready without requiring the purchase of additional modules as is the case with some competing products. This means that in addition to being able to serve data over traditional LANs and Intranets, Apollo Database Server allows client applications developed using Apollo to connect directly to an Apollo Database Server over the Internet. This powerful functionality is inherent in Apollo Database Server because it was built from the ground up using TCP/IP.

Novell NLM

Apollo Database Server does not include an NLM. Novell announced last year that they are dropping support of their proprietary IPX/SPX protocol in favor of the more popular IP protocol. Major companies are sticking with Novell because the have made the move to an IP-based architecture.

NetWare 5.1 enables you to move to pure IP, the standard protocol of the Internet, simplifying administration and making more efficient use of network bandwidth. Your administrators manage only a single protocol, and NetWare 5.1 includes powerful tools that simplify IP address management. The high efficiency of pure IP frees up to 30 percent of your existing bandwidth, so you can provide higher service levels without costly infrastructure upgrades.
Source: http://www.novell.com/lead_stories/2000/jan10

"The IPX protocol is very chatty--it consumes too much bandwidth across the link," said Henry Greener, vice president of network architecture at Eastern Bank.
Source: http://www.internetwk.com/story/INW20000224S0002

Upon inception, it was decided that Apollo Database Server would be built around TCP/IP and looking back, that was very good decision. This enabled us to streamline resources and focus our attention on perfecting one technology. The good news is that Apollo Database Server is Novell-friendly, in that an Apollo Server can be properly deployed on a Windows workstation running on a Novell network.

Competing Products

Apollo Database Server does not follow the over-pricing trend that the competition has bewildered customers with over the years. Instead, Apollo Database Server focuses on the small to medium-sized database market and delivers high-end performance at highly affordable prices so customers get both great technology and great support. Each server is backed by outstanding technical support from Vista Software technical staff.

There are several well-known high-end database products on the market. These products include ORACLE®, SQL-Server®, Advantage™, InterBase™ and so on. Apollo Database Server not only matches many of these products feature-for-feature, but actually introduces new features not found in these tools such as SQL cross-tab queries and direct IP access.

With regards to performance and stability, over 100,000 developers worldwide rely on Apollo database technology and this large customer base has helped solidify the core code set. Apollo Database Server is in the same league as competing high-end tools.

SQL Support

Apollo SQL™ is the built-in SQL support. The supported SQL feature set is rich. Apollo SQL performance as noted by many users is outstanding. And a diverse set of Data Manipulation Language commands provide total control over your data using common SQL statements.

Apollo Local Engines

Apollo Database Server is built on award-winning Apollo database technology. Developers create Apollo client applications with Delphi, C++Builder, Visual Basic, Visual C++ by using one of the various Apollo local engines.

The Apollo local engines allow developers to build powerful stand-alone database applications, peer-to-peer applications and applications that connect to the Apollo Database Server in a true client/server configuration. The core Apollo technology has been enhanced to support the new client/server features. Best of all, the exact same code set can be used to run in all three configurations!

Inside Scoop - Development History

Vista Software CTO, Med Shakeri and his team of developers have been working on Apollo Database Server (code-named "Suncore") since 1997, back when Apollo was with SuccessWare. Mr. Shakeri and his team went to alpha-testing in late 1998 when they successfully deployed "Suncore" at several select beta sites. Vista Software started working closely with Mr. Shakeri in April 1999 and with the additional help of several senior programmers. The Apollo team has been working around the clock on the project ever since. The overall project actually consists of several major phases and components. The following are some of them:

• Enhance Apollo VCL to support client/server computing
• Enhance 32-bit SDE to support heavy network workloads
• Create new Apollo SQL support
• Develop new TCP/IP communication layer
• Develop new Apollo Database Server application and NT Service
• Develop Security sub-system
• Develop Stored Procedure support
• Testing and Beta cycle
• Documentation

Mr. Shakeri designed an advanced TCP/IP module based on proven technology that allows Apollo client applications to connect to a remote Apollo Database Server at astounding speeds. The performance is nothing short of excellent even over a 56K modem connection to a database on the Internet. The actual Apollo Database Server was designed to work directly with our underlying 5th generation, 32-bit SDE database engine. For those that don't know, the SDE is in use by hundreds of thousands of users worldwide and it is the basis of all our database technology.

The overall project was too large an undertaking for a couple developers and actually required the devotion of an entire team - as many as twelve individuals have worked on this project concurrently. The collective efforts of these talented individuals, some working 60 and 70 hour weeks for many months, finally paid off when Apollo Database Server was released on March 30th, 2000!