Sybase databases

McGraw · 08-11-2006, 17:26

Hi.

I am currently evaluating a number of Recruitment database solutions for the company I work for and there is one in particular I like.

It runs on Sybase as opposed to SQL Server on pretty much all the others and I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice as to the pros and cons.

We run XP SP2 with Office 2003.

The outlay will be around ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£5k so I need to make the right decision here.

Thanks very much.

Gareth · 08-11-2006, 17:41

Here's a little secret... Microsoft didn't write SQL Server from scratch, it was pretty much bought from Sybase

Graham M · 08-11-2006, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

Here's a little secret... Microsoft didn't write SQL Server from scratch, it was pretty much bought from Sybase

Oh My God!? Microsoft not doing something original... never!

Sybase is pretty damned good as Databases go, don't think you'll go far wrong.

Gareth · 08-11-2006, 17:48

I know... hard to believe, ain't it?

One thing I do know about Sybase... they pay really badly. I went for an interview at their UK office in Maidenhead a few years ago. The job seemed really interesting, and the guys doing the interview were great (even the director-type bloke I met), but the pay really, really sucked - even more so considering Maidenhead is a stupidly expensive place to live. I would have taken the job if they'd paid a decent salary.

Sorry, didn't mean to drag the thread off topic

McGraw · 08-11-2006, 18:11

I realise that SQL Server was developed by Sybase and Microsoft, I was just concerned about investing in a non-industry standard technology.

Thanks for the replies so far.

Graham M · 08-11-2006, 18:12

What is industry standard these days anyway?

AntiSilence · 08-11-2006, 18:24

The problem with standards is that there's so many of them.

Graham M · 08-11-2006, 18:26

My thought exactly AntiSilence

It's a well targeted DB Suite McGraw, I can't see you going wrong with it.

**Hugh** · 08-11-2006, 19:04

My two-pennorth worth, for what little it's worth, is to ask a couple of questions.

How many users/records do you have at present?
What growth in users/records do your forecast?
How much support will you need?

I don't know how much Sybase will scale, but when we were looking at CRM systems, the choices came down to Oracle, SQL Server on WinTel, and IBM DB2 running on pSeries - SQL Server can really scale up now to compete with Oracle.

There's probably a lot more SQL Server bods out there than Sybase.

Hope this helps.

Graham M · 08-11-2006, 19:10

It's really not about the database backend though, it's what's available as the frontend that you need to look at, as long as its not using a Microsoft Access (I LOL) Database then you're alright.

I've also seen some pretty huge databases on MySQL (Open Source) before.

Gareth · 09-11-2006, 00:37

Well, from what I remember about what I was told during the interviews I had with Sybase, it scales extermely well. They had some very impressive customers doing some very impressive stuff with Sybase, so I'd not be worried about the back-end side of things.

Foreverwar is probably right... SQL Server DBAs are two-a-penny these days.