Release Notes for InterBase 2020

New Features

Tablespace

InterBase multifile database may be interpreted as occupying a single primary tablespace. This tablespace presents a single logical collection of database pages numbered by their sequence in this collection. Starting with InterBase 2020 users can define other named tablespaces that present independent logical collections of pages. For more information refer to Tablespace

ALTER DESCRIPTION Support

InterBase users prior to InterBase 2020 would execute a UPDATE <system_table> SET RDB$DESCRIPTION=<blob_text> WHERE <entity_name>=<user_entity>, for each entity type. This requires the user to know the database system schema in detail for each entity type. The new DDL syntax takes away this complexity, and provides a new ALTER DESCRIPTION FOR syntax that is standard across all database entities supported by InterBase. For more information refer to ALTER DESCRIPTION

TMP$INDICES table

InterBase 2020 introduces TMP$INDICES a new system table included as part of the Performance Monitoring system tables. This table tracks all loaded indices per table in the database with key metrics for monitoring. For more information refer to TMP$INDICES

IBConsole

InterBase 2020 introduces the following enhancements to the IBConsole tool:

Performance Monitor

A new Indices tab that shows a table with details about indices.

Interactive SQL Window

Closing the Interactive SQL Window on a read only transaction no longer prompts a commit or rollback dialog, transaction is commited and the window closes.
Enhanced support for the RECONNECT clause, it now supports CACHE, lc_ctype and DIALECT.
A new Show tab, this tab shows information from isql SHOW statements
InterBase 2020 features support (Tablespaces, Alter Description DDL)
Change Views subscription context and coloring of change status
Syntax highlighting of queries
64-bit IBConsole.exe binary with 64-bit Edition of InterBase
Server-wide Performance Monitoring enhancements
WISQL SHOW commands

NOT Operator Optimizations

InterBase 2020 introduces optimizations for the NOT operator, for more information refer to NOT Operator Optimizations

Other

InterBase ToGo/IBLite Support

Added , macOS 64-bit support for InterBase ToGo/IBLite Edition.
Added Android 64-bit support for InterBase ToGo/IBLite Edition.

Migration Issues

Note: Click here for all issues prior to InterBase 2020.

Migration Issues for InterBase 15

ODS 17/18 to ODS 19
admin.ib and EUA databases: ODS 19 will support SHA-256 password digest for user accounts. SHA-1 and DES-CRYPT will continue to be supported in non-FIPS environments.
- Migration: To use SHA-256 password digest for user accounts (mandatory for FIPS environments), recreate InterBase user accounts on admin.ib with ODS 19 (with default SHA-256 password digest). If you just restore/copy an admin.ib, from IB2020 or prior, it will only allow the weaker digest algorithms DES-CRYPT and SHA-1 digest accounts.
Old clients (IB2020 and prior) will not be able to connect to new server accounts with SHA-256 password digests. Use new InterBase clients to connect.
ODS 19 EUA databases, cannot be restored back to ODS 18, if embedded user accounts have SHA-256 password digests.
InterBase 15 will not have any support for DES encryption.
- All server-based Editions, and ToGo Edition, will support AES encryption strengths 128/192/256.
- AES encryption default strength will be 256 bits, the strongest available in InterBase; versions 2020 and prior had a default of 128 bits.
If migrating EUA/Encrypted databases from (version 2020 and prior) to InterBase 15, execute following steps:
- Using InterBase 2020, convert your database to use AES encryption instead of DES. Then, backup the database and restore into InterBase 15 instance

Known Issues

Attempting a Database Dump on ODS 18 databases that contain tablespaces reports a "feature not supported yet" message. Database dumps on InterBase 15 initial release don't support tablespaces yet.
IBConsole fails to connect to InterBase Desktop Edition server when the server runs as an application, as a workaround run IBConsole as Administrator.

Resolved Defects

External Defect #	Description
(QC)SalesForce #
Internal Defect #
InterBase 15: October 2025, bugs fixed in version 15, build 15.0.0.27.
INTB-4712	Selecting Encrypt Database from the DB Properties screen AVs
INTB-4710	IBConsole. Set SEP. Unsuccessful metadata update error
INTB-4708	Selecting Encrypt Database from the DB Properties screen AVs
INTB-4685	Restoration of normal db fails due to extra character appearance at dbalias filed
INTB-4663	Connection to the copied DB occurs with an AV message
INTB-4642	Windows Server 2025 UnInstallation error
INTB-4638	Windows Server 2025 installation error
INTB-4604	When the performance monitor is auto refreshing the SQL hour glass appears on all screens
INTB-4570	SHOW SYSTEM TABLES doesn't work in IBConsole.
SF Case 01126923 INTB-4434	ODBC issue with integers and numerics on Linux 64bit
SF Case 00616715 INTB-3407	SQLTables returns no tables if % passed to Catalog

Note: Click here for list of resolved defects prior to InterBase 2020.

Additional Resources

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