The motivation for this report was a request from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for NBS to analyze the hardware, software, and file structure that would be required to automate selected types of data for a specific application. This problem was analyzed at the NBS, in the context of the constraint that the recommended hardware and software would have to be compatible with that in use at the NRC.Using primarily vendor literature and the experience of NBS workers, several commercially available database management systems (DBMSs) were examined. The DBMS that was found to be most suitable in relation to the requirements was tested to verify its adequacy. This report identifies various hardware and DBMSs by trade names, as necessary to provide a descriptive characterization of their features and to answer a specific request on costs of the recommended hardware and software. Neither the recommendations nor the inclusion of any item of hardware or software in this report implies a recommendation or endorsement by the National Bureau of Standards for applications other that for which this study was undertaken. Further, the vendors were not asked to verify information for accuracy and clarity, and the recommendations are based on the technical judgement of the authors.Due to the changing nature of the systems features and the user application environment, the information presented is current only to January 1986. DISTRIBUTIONThis document has been prepared for the use of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Responsibility for its further use rests with that agency. NBS requests that if release to the public is contemplated, such action be taken only after consultation with the Technical Information