Patch Release 2.1.2

Firebird 2.1.2 corrects a significant number of bugs that have shown up since the v.2.1 and 2.1.1 releases.

Important Change to API DPB Parameters

A long-standing, legacy loophole in the handling of DPB parameters enabled ordinary users to make connection settings that could lead to database corruptions or give them access to SYSDBA-only operations. The loophole has been closed, a change that could affect several existing applications, database tools and connectivity layers (drivers, components). Details are in Chapter 3, Changes to the Firebird API and ODS.

It also includes three minor improvements that have come from user requests:

Requested in Tracker CORE-2243 was an improvement to reduce the duplication and confusion of the Microsoft Visual C 8 runtime assembly rules for XP, Server2003 and Vista platforms, that have wracked the installation of the v.2.1.x Windows packages so far. Vlad Khorsun has met that request for this sub-release. For more information, refer to Windows installation section of the accompanying Firebird 2 Migration & Installation document.
Dmitry Yemanov has improved database monitoring to enable a non-SYSDBA user to monitor all of its own attachments, not just the one which is that user's CURRENT_CONNECTION. This improvement was requested in Tracker CORE-2233. See also Monitor Multiple Attachments in the Administrative Features chapter.
Dmitry has addressed a complaint about slowness in executing cross joins across three or more tables, particularly when one or more tables are empty. See the notes here and Tracker item CORE-2200.