Special note concerning "connections" to remote servers via the 
Borland SQL-Link.


Sybase and MS SQL 4.x DBLIB client software does not allow multiple 
"statements" per connection which necessitates the need for multiple 
user connections for multiple "Tables", "Queries/SQL" and 
"Linked Cursors" for a Sybase/MSSQL client. "Multiplexing" a single 
connection would incur a decrease in performance.

Interbase, Oracle, and Informix 5.x and above, etc. do not have this 
restriction and therefore do not need additional connections except for 
specific situations. 

==============================================
BDE write management:  all write and locking operations are 
performed on a single, "special" connection, to minimize deadlock 
potential and allow easier change commit coordination.  SELECTs may
be issued on this connection as well, if they are known to produce very 
small datasets.  The BDE default mechanism is singleton commits - 
that is, each UPDATE is normally committed after it is known successful. 
Explicit BDE transaction API calls and batch operations override this.

When "NOT SHARED" (SERVER DRIVER PASSTHROUGH MODE) is 
used a different  connection is maintained for passthrough operations
as opposed to non passthrough operations.   
This is true for all SQL Links.  However, the "Special" connection is a 
Sybase specific feature, due to their lack of cursor support.  Sybase only 
allows one active statement per connection, so multiple active cursors 
require multiple connections.  The BDE, (not the BDE client) determines
the best connection to use for executing SQL statements.  However, there 
are well defined rules, as  mentioned; writes, locking, and passthrough 
queries on the special connection; table opens  on other available 
connections, etc."
==============================================

To check the number of open connections:

INTERBASE:	IB 4.0 Database Manager: connect to database | Tasks 
		| Database Maintenance | Database | Active Users

SYBASE:		sp_who

ORACLE:		"select * from user_users"

INFORMIX:	tbd