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IDMS vs SUPRA Server SQL

IDMS: CODASYL network-model mainframe database, now Broadcom's, still running decades-old COBOL systems. SUPRA Server SQL: Cincom's mainframe relational DBMS for high-volume OLTP, the SQL half of the SUPRA family.

key differences

  • IDMS is primarily a network / navigational database; SUPRA Server SQL is relational.
  • IDMS is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than SUPRA Server SQL (≤ 10 TB).
  • Horizontal scaling is addon in IDMS and none in SUPRA Server SQL.
  • Only IDMS has compression, role-based access.

choose idms for

  • +Government and utility billing systems on z/OS
  • +Manufacturing and distribution systems built in the 1980s
  • +Exposing legacy IDMS data via SQL and web services during migration

best at · OLTP

choose supra-server-sql for

  • +Existing Cincom mainframe transaction systems
  • +SQL reporting over SUPRA data

best at · OLTP

IDMSCODASYL network-model mainframe database, now Broadcom's, still running decades-old COBOL systems.
SUPRA Server SQLCincom's mainframe relational DBMS for high-volume OLTP, the SQL half of the SUPRA family.
overview
Primary model
Network / Navigational
Relational
Also supports
Relational
–
Type
Database engine
Database engine
Status
Active
Active
Developer
Broadcom (originally Cullinane, Computer Associates)
Cincom Systems (PartnerOne)
First release
1973
1989
Latest version
–
–
License
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
ProprietaryProprietary commercial license
Free tier
—
—
popularity
WhichDB Score
6.2
0.0
Rank
#366
#824
GitHub stars
–
–
Stack Overflow questions
–
–
scale & guarantees
Comfortable data size
Large (≤ 1 PB)
Medium (≤ 10 TB)
Horizontal scaling
Addon
None
Multi-region
Read replicas
None
ACID
Full
Full
Consistency
Strong
Strong
Schema
Strict
Strict
Architecture
Client server, Shared storage
Client server, Single node
deployment
Self-hosted
✓
✓
Vendor-managed cloud
—
—
Serverless
—
—
Embedded
—
—
Edge
—
—
Clouds
–
–
capabilities
Transactions
✓
✓
Joins
✓
✓
Secondary indexes
✓
✓
Full-text search
—
—
Vector search
—
—
Geospatial
—
—
JSON
—
—
Change data capture
—
—
Triggers
—
—
Stored procedures
—
—
Materialized views
—
—
TTL / expiry
—
—
Pub/Sub
—
—
Columnar storage
—
—
In-memory
—
—
Durable persistence
✓
✓
Compression
✓
—
Encryption at rest
—
—
Role-based access
✓
—
Time travel
—
—
Branching
—
—
Online schema changes
—
—
Streaming ingest
—
—
Offline sync
—
—
Runs in WebAssembly
—
—
interfaces
Query languages
DML (navigational), SQL (IDMS SQL option), ADS/Online
SQL
Client languages
COBOL, PL/I, Assembly, Java
COBOL, Java, Visual Basic
Best for
OLTP
OLTP
Add more to this comparisonNot sure either fits? Try smart match

IDMS vs SUPRA Server SQL: FAQ

What is the difference between IDMS and SUPRA Server SQL?

IDMS: CODASYL network-model mainframe database, now Broadcom's, still running decades-old COBOL systems. SUPRA Server SQL: Cincom's mainframe relational DBMS for high-volume OLTP, the SQL half of the SUPRA family. IDMS is primarily a network / navigational database; SUPRA Server SQL is relational. IDMS is built for larger datasets (≤ 1 PB) than SUPRA Server SQL (≤ 10 TB). Horizontal scaling is addon in IDMS and none in SUPRA Server SQL.

When should I choose IDMS over SUPRA Server SQL?

Choose IDMS for government and utility billing systems on z/OS; manufacturing and distribution systems built in the 1980s; and exposing legacy IDMS data via SQL and web services during migration. Choose SUPRA Server SQL for existing Cincom mainframe transaction systems and SQL reporting over SUPRA data.

Is IDMS or SUPRA Server SQL more popular?

IDMS ranks #366 on the WhichDB Score (6.2/100) and SUPRA Server SQL ranks #824 (0.0/100). Popularity is not fit: check the requirements that matter for your project.

Are IDMS and SUPRA Server SQL open source?

No. IDMS is proprietary, closed-source software. No. SUPRA Server SQL is proprietary, closed-source software.