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Oracle 10g | MS SQL 2005 1 | MySQL 5 | Summary | Top

Oracle

This is the largest database, and the system of choice to the Fortune 500 companies. ORACLE has been a leader in databases as it has a large number of supported platforms. With the emergence of Oracle 10g, the company's clear focus on huge database systems is apparent like clustering and support for SAN networking solutions. The products is moving away from it standard interface of SQL/PLUS and is now focusing on a web based Enterprise Manager. Deployment of some of its new features are of such a complexity that the single point management system is easier than the command line interface. There are a lot of new and improved features in this product offering. Below is a list:

RMAN is no longer a single database backup system but a full data recovery and librarian application. It has the functionality to scale out to groups of databases. Additionally, RMAN can export from one database to another. (The one limitation is when there are different character sets in the destination and source databases.)

FLASH-BACK Technology allows data recovery in real-time. Now Tables can be recovered after they have been inadvertently deleted or data changes can be rolled back in a database after a bad SQL statement.

AUTOMATIC PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Technology will automatically fine-tune a database SGA and SYSAUX by allocating resources in the background. To implement these modifications it no longer requires a system reboot as the process is being managed in real-time.

AUTOMATIC STORAGE MANAGEMENT This feature creates RAW Devices. These RAW devices may on the surface function like standard tables but are no longer the same. This new system will allow portability to and from any platform without having import or export data. This feature will require time before database managers embrace this new structure but ORACLE is committed to this direction and it will be expanded on in future ORACLE releases.

There is also a fundamental chance in the way ORACLE deploys its new databases. Recently they took a copy of open-source REDHAT Linux, de-branded it, called it "Unbreakable Linux" and are now recommending it as the platform of choice for their latest ORACLE. The version of Linux is slightly dated as it does not support the new APIC CPU design. (the problem can be solved by turning off access to this CPU feature within the GRUB loader) To make up for their investments in the LINUX OS they are now charging for LINUX updates. One other point to note is that ORACLE comes bundled with a full set of extra modules and the using of any of them implies acceptance. These modules will then be charged for.

A full featured unlimited copy of Enterprise Oracle can be downloaded for free and used if not deployed in a commercial setting or a slimmed down unrestricted ORACLE Lite. See the link for Downloads.

Oracle 10g | MS SQL 2005 1 | MySQL 5 | Summary | Top

Microsoft SQL 2005

Microsoft is close behind ORACLE in acceptance. Unlike ORACLE it has always sported a graphical interface for its data management. It does not allow its DBAs the direct access to many of its features. It has relied on a 'BLACK BOX' technology for fine-tuning an application. Many a MS SQL DBA has marveled at how a database application can continue to improve its performance with no manual intervention.

MS SQL first emerged in the mid-nineties when Microsoft purchased a database-engine from SyBase and created MS SQL 6.5. In the last 10 years it has quickly evolved into the system with the fastest Transactional record and queuing performance. Being that this product is totally Windows OS dependant is one of its greatest weaknesses and strongest strengths. As the Linux market share continues to grow MS SQL losses potential customers but with its tight integration with Windows products its hold within its scope of influence becomes more tightly bound.

Visual Studio Integration SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 together provide deeper levels of integration between the database and the application development environment than ever before. Multiple languages can be access the databases data. ADO, XML and XQuery are some of the commonly used data connection sets.

Data Access and Web Services In SQL Server 2005, you can develop XML Web services in the database tier, making SQL Server an HTTP listener. (This technology was used for years with ORACLE and now has matched this capability.)

Data Mining MS SQL has upped the anti with the deployment of this state-of-the-art mining tool set. Oracle has long held the market with its OLAP or Warehouse data engine but now they have competition.

Reporting Services and Report Builder Third party or the integration of customized Windows Office Tools have long been the only way to present data results in a high quality business format. No data could be acquire and presented in a single unified application.

Replication is designed to increase data availability by distributing the data across multiple database servers. This process can be performed in real-time so in the case of a catastrophic failure the replicated servers can automatically assume responsibilities of hosting the clients.

There are a host of enhanced features like Scalability, Table and Index Partitioning, Snapshot Isolation and Security and given these features along with a cheaper price tag do make this product a potential Oracle killer. Time will tell of course as there are many strong loyalties to various database platforms and any migration will be slow over a number of years

Microsoft does not allow a full download of their Enterprise MS SQL database but there is unrestricted download and use of their MS SQL Server 2005 Express version. The only limitations other that scalability is the maximum size of a single database. To acquire a full-featured copy along with an extensive set of training tools follow the link.

Oracle 10g | MS SQL 2005 1 | MySQL 5 | Summary | Top

MySQL

This database is the most commonly used database in the world. With its free open source distribution it allows users to setup a large database with none of the initial costs. For years it has not had the scalability or functionality of ORACLE or MS SQL but with the emergence of new technology that has changed. It is the only major database application which has continued to expand its market share.

FALCON engine. This ia a new cutting-edge transactional engine that is designed to support high-volume user traffic in tandem with very fast and secure transaction management. To check out the product offering view this link.

PBXT transactional storage engine that offers all the right features for MySQL users who are on the hunt for an engine to keep their transactional data safe. PBXT sports crash recovery, unlimited row-level locking, MVCC, foreign keys/server-enforced referential integrity, automatic storage management, minimal configuration setup, and online backup support. To view this update plug-in follow this link.

Oracle 10g | MS SQL 2005 1 | MySQL 5 | Summary | Top

Summary

There are many other database applications in the market, some old stalwarts like SyBase and Informix or some deploying the very latest in OBJECT Technology like Postgress and Caché or some experimental super-fast search engines like ANTS and finally technologies in progress like DB2. These products definitely are worthy of review but currently have limited or niche market penetration. As the two major databases continue to battle it out for more territory MySQL has continued to expand at a record rate. Some pundits have suggested the MySQL will hold 50% of the market share by the years 2010. See the graph below showing the latest statistics of the database market share.

Source: JoinVision E-Services GmbH, July 2006