Database Comparison of SQL Server 2000, Access, MySQL, DB2, and Oracle

Introduction

This paper will compare and contrast five different database management systems on six criteria. The database management systems (DBMS) that will be discussed are SQL Server 2000, Access, MySQL, DB2, and Oracle. The criteria that will be compared are the systems’ functionality, the requirements that must be met to run the DBMS, the expansion capabilities – if it is able to expand to handle more data over time, the types of companies that typically use each one, the normal usage of the DBMS, and the costs associated with implementing the DBMS.

System functionality

Microsoft Access is a database engine and development environment in one package. It is typically workstation-based, and designed to be easy to use, even for users with no experience. However, it also provides advanced functionality for experienced users. MySQL is the largest open-source RDMBS, and it is server-based, as well as the rest of the DBMS that will be discussed. According to the mysql.com website, it offers high reliability and performance, easy use and deployment, freedom from platform lock-in by providing ready access to source code, and cross-platform support. SQL Server is an enterprise class RDBMS from Microsoft. It is part of the Back Office Suite of products. Although it is always server-based in production, it can be client-based in development. DB2 is also an enterprise-class DBMS, produced by IBM. It offers some object-oriented functionality, as well as cross-platform compatibility, and is server-based. Finally, Oracle offers much of the same functionality as DB2, with cross-platform capability, and some object-oriented features. It, as well, is server-based.

System Requirements

There is a correlation between the complexity of the DBMS and the system requirements. For instance, Access can be installed on any Windows-based operating system from Windows 95 and above. SQL Server, in the widely used Standard and Enterprise editions, is also strictly Windows-based, but must be run on Windows NT or 2000 Servers. The personal and development editions of SQL Server may be run on Windows NT Workstation, and Windows 2000 and XP Professional, in addition to the server platforms. MySQL has a wide variety of platforms, including the Windows platforms, Sun Solaris, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, and HP-UX, to list a few. DB2 will run on Windows NT 4 and higher, Sun Solaris, HP-UX and Linux....

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This paper was written to show the similarities and differences in five different databases. It compared Access, MySQL, SQL Server, DB2, and Oracle in six different areas. It found many similarities in functionality, but large diversity in pricing.

References

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Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs Access 2000 (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_access.htm

Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs DB2 v8.1 (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_db2.htm

Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs MySQL version 4.1 (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_mysql.htm

Chigrik, Alexander, SQL Server 2000 vs Oracle 9i (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from http://www.mssqlcity.com/Articles/Compare/sql_server_vs_oracle.htm

MySQL Licensing Policy (n.d.), retrieved April 6, 2005, from the MySQL company website: http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/