CONNX Solutions (formerly SolutionsIQ's Software Products Division) today announced the latest release of its industry-leading data access middleware product -- CONNX 8.6. CONNX 8.6 incorporates a number of significant performance enhancements in addition to support for an additional data source - VSAM on OS/390 CICS.

"CONNX 8.6 opens up the CONNX technology to the IBM world of VSAM, providing a native, high-performance CICS driver. Additionally, our existing RMS customers will enjoy the significant FTL performance enhancements in 8.6 when accessing multimillion row files," said Larry McGhaw, Director of Product Development.

CONNX Solutions' vision of one common data access interface to all data sources within an enterprise was extended by the release of CONNX 8.6 and its support for the VSAM database. While many standards such as XML attempt to solve the disparate database integration problem, most of these tend to rely on multiple products and messaging technology, or are so generic they cause tremendous manual effort to accomplish the task. CONNX differs by integrating databases in real-time and through one common, integrated interface product.

In general, legacy data sources such as VSAM are the backbone of enterprise computing. The Internet is creating a need in the enterprise (and throughout the industry) to be able to seamlessly access both relational and non-relational data sources as if they were stored in a single database. The CONNX architecture enables users to overlay common relational technology access on data sources within the enterprise, regardless of location, type, or hardware.

By adding support for VSAM, CONNX Solutions is better able to support all educational institutions currently using SCT Plus2000 software. This will further strengthen the SCT/CONNX Solutions strategic partnership formed in October 1999. Higher education software manufacturer Campus America/Jenzabar, author of POISE software for educational institutions, also benefits from this latest release of CONNX. Several new data types have been added to CONNX along with a POISE-specific metadata import. Campus America/Jenzabar is also a strategic partner of CONNX Solutions. CONNX 8.6 also includes many other core enhancements, including: 

1. A fourfold increase of speed in CONNX's proprietary FTL (Fast Tuning Logic) technology. FTL provides transparent optimization of nonoptimal queries created through reporting tools or direct user entry. 
2. Representation of multiple RMS files as a single database object -- exploiting the cataloging functions added in CONNX 8.5. 
3. Support for linked (parent/child) CONNX Data Dictionaries. 
4. Integrated NT security support. 
5. Catalog support. 
6. Additional SQL Server support. 
7. A GUI-based CONNX View builder. 
8. InfoNaut enhancements. 
9. Predefined SCT data views. 
10. Thirty new statistical aggregate functions. 

InfoNaut - Enhancements to the new CONNX query tool first shipped with CONNX 8.5. InfoNaut now includes instant grouping of query results and several UI improvements. InfoNaut's drag-and-drop functionality allows CONNX users to simply and quickly generate queries against CONNX data sources. This eliminates the complexity necessitated by other query tools. Infonaut can be deployed throughout the enterprise with minimal effort and training. 

CONNX Solutions CEO Douglas D. Wright described the need for InfoNaut in the following statement: "Many of the reporting tools on the market today provide fabulous functionality … for those that need and understand that functionality. But there are those who do not have the need for complex capabilities - mainly business users developers - who just want to build a quick query that returns the information they need without having to go through a large product-learning curve. With non-InfoNaut products, the overabundance of features tends to slow down the process of accessing information."

About CONNX Solutions

CONNX Solutions, Inc., (formerly SolutionsIQ's Software Products Division) with its flagship software product, CONNX, brings EAI/universal data access technology to over 3,000 organizations worldwide by enabling access to all enterprise data, regardless of origin, through one interface. The company maintains strategic relationships with industry-leading organizations including Microsoft Corporation; Oracle Corporation; Sybase Inc.; Informix; Computer Associates International, Inc.; IBM Corporation; and Compaq Computer Corporation. Founded in 1989, CONNX remains locally owned and managed through its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. For more information, contact CONNX Sales at (425) 519-6600, or visit our Web site at http://www.CONNX.com .

CONNX Solutions and CONNX are registered trademarks of CONNX Solutions. All other trademarks are acknowledged.