Hello All,

My applications function as a datawarehouse, with the Unix back-end handling transaction processing, primary end user interfaces, ect. These Unix boxes are from a Service Provider who doesnt often allow my company to offer input as to how their system works. This Service Provider is going to be offering us a client-server compatible Unix box in the near future, and I have the chance to *finally* offer some input as to our needs. This new client-server box is supposed be on Oracle platform, and I'm hoping someone can give me a few details I need to evaluate what they are going to offer us, and help me draw up my suggestions. Here's what I need to know:

1. What the latest greatest version of Oracle?

2. Once this oracle box is in place on our network, and I interface to it as an ODBC data source, is there anything the Service Provider can do (in oracle) that would prevent me from getting full access to the data stored there? (The current system prevents me from getting to certain tables and certain fields in other tables)

3. Any idea why This Service Provider might have originally announced/designed/promoted this new Client-Server box to be Informix platform and now close to release time they suddenly switch gears and say it will be Oracle?

I finally get my chance to corner this Service Provider on Monday 11/24/97 so any input to these questions will be very helpful. TIA!!