RDBMS Server Evaluation Matrix v 1.0.2 - FAQ

Attached is the first production draft of the RDBMS Server Comparison Matrix. As a change to this version, I have included a detailed description of each of the categories at the bottom of the matrix. I have also included numerous corrections, changes, and suggestions from the folks listed at the end of this document. Please forward any corrections, comments, or additions to me at the address below. When using the matrix, please remember that this is shareware and no warranties are given or implied. I have made every effort to include correct information, and have had this document reviewed by active usenet contributors and users of all the products. Interestingly, I send copies of this to active internet participants from each of the vendors, but didn't get a ton of feedback. I considered including information for Sybase System 10, which make that product look a lot better. However, Since the next versions of Oracle7, Informix, and Ingres also have good new stuff in them I don't want to play the beta game. I've included some information on a few beta offerings such as for ODBC and pre- compilers, but I hesitate to do this for the engines themselves. I suggest that you use this document as a starting point for your database search. Figure out what you application needs are, then what features are most important to you, and use this to get a rough idea of what might be the best fit. Then put together an RFP for the vendors. I've found that an evaluation matrix weighting the functionality you deem most important, and ranking each vendor's implementation of that functionality based on their responses is very helpful in selecting the right product for your application. I hope this helps people out. Dan Druker 2nd Year MBA Student The Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA (Formerly with Oracle Corp, now Independent) ddruker@agsm.ucla.edu RDBMS Server Feature Comparison Matrix: Version 1.0.2 Copyright 1993 by Daniel Druker All Rights Reserved Product O = Oracle7 Version 7.0 S = Sybase Version 4.9 A = Ask/Ingres Version 6.4 I = Informix On-Line Version 5.0 NOTE: The 4th column is Informix, not Ingres. This confuses some people... Y = Yes, the feature exists in the current production product N = No, the feature does not exist in the production product * = See the note in the detailed description section B = The feature exists in a useable, late beta product. Product O S A I I. PERFORMANCE ================ 1. Row Level Locking Y N N Y 2. Page Level Locking N Y Y Y 3. Table Level Locking Y Y Y Y 4. Database Level Locking Y Y Y Y 5. Programmable Read Isolation Levels N N N Y 6. System Doesn't Escalate Locks Y N N Y 7. Programmer May Escalate Locks Y Y Y Y 8. Versioning / No Read Locks Y * * * 9. Dirty Read Mode N N Y Y 10. Multi Server Architecture Y Y Y N 11. Symmetric Multi-Processor Support Y Y Y Y 12. Support for Loosely Coupled Systems Y N Y N 13. Array Interface Y N N N 14. Shared Commits Y Y Y Y 15. Asynchronous I/O Y Y Y Y 16. Raw I/O Y Y N Y 17. Shared Log Files Y Y Y Y 18. Non-Blocking Queries Y * * * 19. Clustered Tables Y N Y N 20. Clustered Indexes Y Y Y Y 21. Hash Indexes Y N N N 22. ANSI Standard Cursor Support Y N Y Y 23. Backward Scrolling Cursors N N N N 24. Non-Blocking Sequence Generator Y N N Y 25. Unique-Key Generator Y N Y Y 26. Cost Based Optimizer Y Y Y Y 27. Optimizer uses Data Content Heuristics N N Y N 28. Optimizer Scans Entire Table to get Stats Y Y Y Y 29. Optimizer can estimate stats to save time Y N Y N 30. Optimizer uses network costs N N N N 31. Optimizer uses hardware costs N N N N 32. Optimizer knows real-time load factors N N N N 33. Optimizer moves join location Y N Y Y 34. Stored Procedures in Database Y Y Y Y 35. Cached Procedures are Shared Y Y Y N 36. Stored Procedures can return Sets Y N N Y 37. Stored Procedures Return All Datatypes Y N N Y 38. Stored Functions in Database Y N N Y 39. Stored Procedure Cache Y Y Y Y 40. Shared SQL Cache Y N N N 41. Parallel Data Query N N N N 42. Parallel Index Build N N N N 43. Parallel Sort N N N N 44. Performance Monitoring Tools Y Y Y Y II.INTEGRITY O S A I ============== 45. Adherence to Industry Standards SQL Interface Y Y Y Y FIPS 127-1 Validated Y * Y Y 46. Declarative Integrity Model Y N N Y 47. Cascading Updates N N N N 48. Cascading Deletes Y N N N 49. Loosely Typed Datatypes, Ala ADA Y N N N 50. Null Support Y Y Y Y 51. Database Triggers Y Y Y N 52. PRE- and POST- Triggers Y N Y N 53. Triggers fire once per SQL Statement Y Y Y N 54. Triggers fire for each row affected Y N N N 55. Programmer can control trigger fire order Y Y N N 56. Automatic Procedure Recompilation Y Y Y Y 57. Programmer Defined Datatypes N Y Y N 58. Event Alerters Y N Y Y 59. Database Events Call 3GL Program Y * * N 60. Stored Procedures Call 3GL Program Y * * N III. DATABASE O S A I ============= 61. Portable Y Y Y Y 62. Automatic Database Recovery Y Y Y Y 63. Multiplexed Log Files Y Y Y Y 64. Database Mirroring N Y N Y 65. On-Line Database Backup Y Y Y Y 66. Automatic Log Backup Y Y Y Y 67. On-Line Software Diagnostics Y Y Y Y 68. Hot Standby Server Y Y Y N 69. Full Cluster Utilization Y N Y N 70. On Line Recovery Y Y N N 71. Parallel Backup of multiple files Y N N N 72. Parallel Recovery of multiple files Y N N N 73. Multiple Log Files Y N Y N 74. Resource Limiter/Governor Y N Y N 75. DBA Utilities Y Y Y Y 76. Database Auditing Y Y Y N IV.DISTRIBUTED RDBMS O S A I ====================== 77. Distributed Join Y N Y Y 78. Synchronous Table Replication Y N Y N 79. Asynchronous Table Replication Y N N N 80. Connections to other Databases Y Y Y N 81. Programmatic Two Phase Commit Y Y Y N 82. Transparent Two Phase Commit Y N Y Y 83. Two Phase Commit to Heterogeneous RDBMS Y N N N 84. Movable Transaction Coordinator Y N N N 85. Remote Procedure Calls Y Y Y Y 86. RPC's Protected by Two Phase Commit Y N Y Y 87. Heterogeneous Data Support Y Y Y N 88. Procedural Database Gateway Y Y N N 89. SQL Based Database Gateway Y Y Y N 90. XA TP Monitor Compliant Y N N Y 91. Top End TP Monitor Support Y Y Y Y 92. CICS TP Monitor Support Y Y N N 93. Trans. Can Span Multiple Net Protocols Y N Y N 94. ODBC Support B B B B 95. SQL Access Group Support B B B B V. DATABASE SECURITY O S A I ====================== 96. OS Security Integration Y Y Y Y 97. User Group Privileges/Roles Y Y Y N 98. Mandatory Access Control * * * * 99. Undergoing for Evaluation by NCSC Y N N Y 100. Standard Tools with Trusted Product Y N N Y 101. Non-Dedicated Trusted Server Y N Y Y 102. Product being evaluated at C2 Level Y N N Y 103. Product being evaluated at B1 Level Y N * Y 104. Product Certified (Europe) at B1 Equiv N N Y N VI.LANGUAGES & TOOLS