Database Concepts

Database Concepts Compare and contrast Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, DB2, and Oracle database programs Providers: Microsoft Corporation provides Microsoft Access and SQL Server, Oracle by Oracle Corporation and DB2 is a product of IBM. Brief about each: MS Access: Microsoft Access is a database, which comes bundled in Microsoft Office Products. Access is fully compatible with Active Server Pages (ASP) scripting. Database programs such as Access (sometimes called Relational Database Management systems or RDBMS) are used to store information, often large amounts of information.

It can be used as a flat-file database (using a single table) or a relational database (using more than one table linked together). Access database applications can be produced for a large number of database situations including financial and scientific data - with excellent results. Access comes equipped with Wizards, which help the novice to create tables, forms, queries and reports. A complicated relational database design and implementation may need the advice and help of a technical consultant.

Access has a Query Wizard to help you create the following types of query: Crosstab, Duplicate, Find Unmatched and Simple Oracle: Oracle Corporation is the largest software company whose primary business is database products. Historically, Oracle has targeted high-end workstations and minicomputers as the server platforms to run its database systems. Its relational database was the first to support the SQL language, which has since become the industry standard. The standard query language SQL is used to interact with the database.

Oracle is not recommended for small databases or for users without relational database experience. DB2: Abbreviated name for IBM DB2 Universal Database developed as a relational database by IBM. It runs on non-IBM machines as well as IBM hardware and full-featured, robust, scalable and easy to use database. SQL Server: It is a Relational Data Base Management System (RDBMS) from Sybase Corporation. SQL Server was designed for client/server use and is accessed by applications using SQL. It runs on OS/2, Windows NT, NetWare servers, VAXen, and UNIX workstations.

When capitalized, the term generally refers to either of two database management products from Sybase and Microsoft. Both companies offer client-server DBMS products called SQL Server. Comparative Study of Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, DB2, and Oracle database programs on following parameters: A. Hardware requirements Processor: Pentium 166 MHz or higher for SQL Server Pentium 75 MHz or higher for Microsoft Access 2000 Pentium 166 MHz or higher for Oracle Pentium or Pentium compatible CPU for DB2 B.

Memory requirement: Beside minimum 256 MB RAM, additional memory may be required for DB2 in a window-based platform. SQL Server 2000, it varies from 32 MB to 128MB or more depending o whether it is on Desktop or some other editions. Oracle requires minimum of 128 MB RAM (though 256 MB recommended) and it also require a virtual memory of 200MB in an Intel or compatible platforms. For Microsoft Access it depends on the window version (Ex. 32MB RAM for Window NT) C.

Software requirements: MS Access and SQL Server 2000 can work on any of the Window editions. Oracle can run on SQL as well as Sun Solaris platform. DB2 run on mainframe. It also support Java and XML D. TPC tests: The Transaction Processing Performance Council (TPC.Org) is an independent organization that specifies the typical transactions and measures the performance and price/performance of transaction processing systems. As an OLTP system benchmark, TPC-C simulates a complete environment where a population of terminal operators executes transactions against a database.

The benchmark is centered on the principal activities (transactions) of an order-entry environment. Oracle gives TPC-C Benchmark Result. DB2 gives TPC-C Benchmark Result. In fact IBM's DB2 has topped TPC Benchmark List. Server 2000 ranks number one on Windows in both TPC-C clustered and non-clustered benchmarks. E. Platform comparison: Both Oracle 9i Database and DB2 Universal Database version 8.1 support all known platforms, including Windows-based platforms, AIX-Based Systems, HP-UX systems, Linux Intel, Sun Solaris and so on.

SQL Server 2000 only works on Windows-based platforms, including Windows 9x, Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows CE. Microsoft Access 2000 can be installed under the following operation systems: Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6 (SP6), Windows 2000, or Windows XP or later. F. Editions: Oracle 9i Database comes in three editions: Enterprise, Standard and Personal and requires different software for them.

DB2 Universal Database v8.1 comes in six editions namely DB2 Enterprise Server Edition (ESE), DB2 Workgroup Server Edition (WSE), DB2 Workgroup Server Unlimited Edition (WSUE), DB2 Personal Edition (PE), DB2 Universal Developer's Edition (UDE), DB2 Personal Developer's Edition (PDE). SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft Access 2000 does not have any editions. G. Price comparison: By comparison, Oracle is the costliest product and MS Access is the cheapest among them.

Compare pricing for Oracle9i Standard Edition and IBM DB2 v8.1 Workgroup Edition Number of CPUs: 1 Oracle9i Standard Edition: $15,000 IBM DB2 v8.1 Workgroup Edition: $7,500 Compare pricing for Oracle9i Enterprise Edition and IBM DB2 v8.1 Enterprise Edition: Number of CPUs: 1 Oracle9i Standard Edition: $40,000 IBM DB2 v8.1 Workgroup Edition: $25,000 SQL Server 2000 is currently available under two licensing options: Processor license. $4,999 per processor Server/per-seat client access license (CAL) with 5 CALs - $1,489 and with 10 CALs - $2,249 Microsoft Access 2000 like Office 2000 is no longer available at retail for individual purchases.

Microsoft Access 2002 costs $339 and $109 for upgradation. Similarly Office XP Professional and Developer editions have different prices. H. Dialect Used: The dialect of SQL supported by Oracle 9i Database is called PL/SQL. The dialect of SQL supported by IBM DB2 v8.1 is called DB2 SQL dialect. The dialect of SQL supported by Microsoft SQL Server 2000 is called Transact-SQL (T-SQL). The dialect of SQL supported by IBM DB2 v8.1 is called DB2 SQL dialect. DB2 SQL dialect is more powerful language than T-SQL. I.

Different name lengths: The name of the column, index, table, view and stored procedures are of 30 bytes in Oracle, 128 bytes in SQL Server, 64 bytes in MS Access whereas it is of 128 bytes in DB2. J. Length of query statement: The longest SQL statement in Oracle is of 16,777,216 bytes, 65,536 bytes (Network packet size 4 KB, by default) in SQL Server, approximately 64,000 bytes in MS Access whereas in DB2 it is of 65535 bytes. Microsoft Access 2000 falls into the desktop category and works best for individuals and workgroups managing megabytes of data. In.