Re: Oracle license costs

Chaim-

I managed to save hardcopy but not soft, so I can't send it but I can comment. Actually, I was surprised at how little difference there was between Oracle and SQLServer at moderate usage levels assuming these numbers are accurate and you're using a similar server configuration. At 100 users Oracle was ~64K, SS was 50K, but Oracle upgrades are included in support costs while you have to pay 50-75% of new price for SS upgrades. SS support is priced per call, such that after 4 calls per month Oracle support is cheaper. At 200 users you see more of a difference (127K Oracle vs 50K for SS) and support breakeven is after 9 calls a month, but if you upgrade SS at the 50-75% additional cost the difference starts to go away again. The big difference is as you scale the ladder of licensed users because SS gives an unlimited user license, but of course if you have problems getting SS to climb that scale then no amount of $$$ will be enough. I don't have direct experience in that, but if you have to buy 5 'low-cost' NT servers (and presumably 5 SS licenses?) to replace one <pick your flavor> Unix server the economics could get ugly.

Long live free-range fresh-air chocolate-covered Canadian ants!

Jim

>>> Chaim.Katz_at_Completions.Bombardier.com 03/23/01 10:50AM >>>

List,
Recently there was a discussion concerning the cost of Oracle licenses vs MS Sql Server licenses wasn't there? That discussion was not an issue at my job - until today which is why I'm wondering if there were any postings that in any shape or form justified some of the price differential between Oracle and MSSQL? If so, could someone forward the arguments to me? I would appreciate it very much.

I admit that in the last little while, I was deleting (a little too quickly) everything that had nothing to do with ants, canada, chocolate factories and fresh air.

I think what's really needed is a dba certificate program based on the postings of this list which would of course include off and on topic material.

Thanks
Chaim
katzch_at_hotmail.com

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