Re: Anyone using Pwr Bldr/Oracle/Novell Nets?===========

John Jones wrote:
>
> And is it working OK for you. I have questions:
> 1) Has Power Builder been hard to learn
> 2) What sort of Server size will I need for Oracle
> 3) How hard is it to DBA this database system
> 4) How is it stacking up with Novell Networks, good or bad?
>
> Thank you for helping me...
> john jones
> jbjones_at_mem.net

1. Depends on your background. If you have used OO style tools before and done some Windows programming, PB should be quite easy. Otherwise...
2. Depends on the size of your database, nature of your application and number of users. There are no simple rules. As a minimum, I would suggest a fast Pentium and 64M RAM and multiple SCSI 2 disk drives - systems like this are quite cheap nowadays. Oh, and don't forget a tape drive! ;-) And a CD ROM...
3. To DBA Oracle really well - i.e., tune it for maximum performance and have a good pro-active space monitoring scheme in place - takes a fair degree of skill. If you don't have those skills I suggest you get some outside help, followed by some training. Getting the best out of Oracle is not easy, as it is a complex product, but it's well worth the effort. And fun too! :-) You might also want to consider 3rd party administration/monitoring tools, i.e., Patrol.
4. Er, do you mean 'How good is Netware as a database server OS'? Well, to be honest, having built Oracle systems on VAX VMS, UNIX (HP, SCO and AIX), Windows NT and Novell Netware, I would have to put Netware at the bottom of my list - as it isn't really a true OS - like UNIX! :-) Still, if the only skills you have at present are Netware and you want to dip your toes in the Oracle waters, give it a try - however, be prepared to 'trade-up' (say to UNIX or such like) if your requirements grow significantly. NB. An Intel style server like the Compaq range will let you choose from a range of OS's (Netware, NT, SCO UNIX, OS2), so you might be able to reuse your existing hardware if you decide to upgrade - say to SMP (as long as your hardware is upgradable too).

Steve Phelan (UK). Received on Fri Oct 18 1996 - 00:00:00 CEST