UNIX DBMS systems

[whm at megaron.UUCP]

We're looking for a UNIX DBMS and are interested in seeing what folks on
the net might recommend.  We've investigated some of the commercial DBMS
products and the prices are a little more than we're interested in paying
given our perceived applications.  Even with educational discounts, the
prices seem to range from $6k to $20k (and up) for the initial purchase,
with typically $5k a year in maintenance.  We know that Ingres comes with
BSD, but some persons have cast vague dispersions on it.

Is the Ingres that comes with BSD (we're running 4.3bsd, incidentally)
in fact suitable for "real" applications, or is it more at home in the
educational/experimental realm?

Are there other quasi-free DBMS systems available or is Ingres about the only
such thing?

As far as commercial DBMS products go, does anyone have any recommendations
or disrecommendations?  Are there any products that are less expensive than
described above?

Assuming that I get some useful information back, I'll summarize and post it.
(If you wish to remain anonymous, be sure to say so.)

					Bill Mitchell
					whm at arizona.edu
					{ucbvax,noao,mcnc,utah-cs}!arizona!whm
p.s.
Mail through ihnp4 seems to be somewhat unreliable these days, so an alternate
route is recommended.  If you can reach the Internet, the best bet is to do
that and then send it on to whm at arizona.edu.