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Microsoft Sqlserver 2000 versus Oracle
SQL SERVER TECHNICAL LIMITATIONS
SQL Server is only operable on the Windows platform, and this is a major
limitation
for it to be an enterprise solution. Oracle is available on multiple
platforms such as
Windows, all flavours of Unix from vendors such as Ibm, Sun, Digital,
HP, Sequent,
etc. and VAX-VMS as well as MVS. The multi-platform nature of Oracle
makes it
a true enterprise solution.
2. Locking / concurrency
SQL Server has no multi-version consistency model which means that
"writers block readers
and readers block writers" to ensure data integrity. In contrast, with
Oracle the rule is
"readers dont block writers and writers dont block readers". This is
possible without
compromising data integrity because Oracle will dynamically re-create a
read-consistent
image for a reader of any requested data that has been changed but not
yet committed.
In other words, the reader will see the data as it was before the writer
began changing
it (until the writer commits). SQL Server's locking scheme is much
simpler (less mature)
and will result in a lot of delays/waits in a heavy OLTP environment.
Also, SQL Server will escalate row locks to page level locks when too
many rows on
a page are locked. This locks rows which are uninvolved in any updates
for no good reason.
3. PERFORMANCE and TUNING
SUMMARY.
SQL Server is clearly positioned between MS-ACCESS and ORACLE in terms
of functionality,
performance, and scalability. It makes a work group level solution
(small number of users with
small amount of data). Oracle is much more advanced and has more to
offer for larger applications
with both OLTP and Data Warehouse applications, and its open-source
nature makes it the
most convincing argument for an enterprise.
Received on Wed Dec 20 2000 - 00:29:47 CST