Oracle8i or SQL server??????????

[Stevenson]

Hi,

Can anybody give me a Comparision of the 2 most widely used
Databases Oracle 8i and SQL Server.
We have to use one of these as the Database
in a VB 6.0 Project which is right now working with MS-Access
Database. since the Database is growing big we have to shift
to a bigger database.
so please give some suggestions which one to use SQL Server or
Oracle 8i ??????
which is the best among the two ?

Thanx in Advance
Steve

 

[DBAwhosaysNIE]

there's no serious debate, Oracle is better. the question is whether it is cost justifiable for your shop (Oracle is BIG $) and whether you need what Oracle brings to the table (uptime, scalability, etc.). I have an instance (& therefore server) which has been up >400 days (& yes, I know about the 248 day bug); good luck doing that w/NT, let alone an application running on it. if you HAVE to use vb6 I'd probably go w/SQL*Server to save the $ as that alone tells me this is not likely a 24/7/365 mission critical app. if it IS and cost is a consideration I'd look at a Linux/mySQL/php architecture as that would be more reliable and actually cheaper than the M$ solution.

just my 2c/never 2bHO!

 

[MikeLacey]

<suspicious look> *What* 248 day bug?
Mike
michael.j.lacey@ntlworld.com

 

[DBAwhosaysNIE]

see Note:118228.1 on MetaLink

instance (normally) doesn't crash but you end up having to do a shutdown abort and/or manually kill the background processes. supposedly there are patches for this now but I haven't had time to apply them (I'll worry about it when I get >200 days on my main DBs).

also, apologies to Stevenson for snideness; doesn't excuse it but I've been under a LOT of pressure lately (BIG project due date this week)! that being said, I've yet to meet anyone who's made the leap from MS to Linux/Unix and wanted to go back (I've actually done a good bit of Oracle on NT myself ;-). anyway, I try to always be constructive when I post (even w/newbies) but occassionally drop the ball... good luck w/your project!