Question

DB2 vs Oracle

Asked by: mlarkin47

I just started a consulting assignment as an Oracle DBA, and to my dismay, I am hearing rumors that client is seriously considering dumping Oracle for DB2. I would welcome any objective observations (without expletives, please) from anyone with considerable experience with both databases. The reason being given for this move is that Oracle is costing them too much. They have dozens of databases, some very large, ranging from v7.3 to 8.1.7. Mostly they are running on IBM/AIX, with some NT installs.

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Asked On
2001-03-28 at 08:09:41ID20098192
Tags

db2

,

oracle

,

vs

Topic

Databases Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
5
Points
50
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: acampomaPosted on 2001-03-28 at 11:21:12ID: 5967210

listening

 

by: schwertnerPosted on 2001-03-28 at 22:37:35ID: 5968592

An attempt to help You.
Yes - DB2 is cheaper, but Oracle is produced by a pure DBMS company which follows the needs of the customers. So there is no reason to think that DB2 will be appropriate for the Internet times. I think that DB2 is also a good DBMS, it is especially good for IBM mini and mainframe, but the development of this software (with great respect to IBM) is not the desired. So the risk is to high.

Look at the following:

On Oracle 7.3 and Oracle 8 did not suport Internet, HTML, JAVA, XML, those tools began to be supported

with Oracle 8i and 9i (i = Internet)

On Oracle 7.3 is a nice DB, but you did not support table partitioning, index partitioning, a lot DB

parameters have to be set and restart the DB, you have objects option (on entreprise versions only)and

the large objects was up to 2GB

On Oracle 8 can support bitmap index, table partitioning, index partiotiong, advanced replication, reverse

index, advanced security, and large objects (up to 4GB) objects option (on entreprise versions only,

the parameters are set but you have to restart the DB there are some diferences on rowid  from the older

version

On Oracle 8i supports all from the others versions plus internet, it's more easy to manage large objects

with more size, there are some diferences on rowid from the older version.

On Oracle 9i support Internet integration, it's more "inteligent" DB, it can be auto tune, supports

the application server (before were sold separtly), almost all the DB parameters can be set without

restarting the DB

This is a litle of the main diferences from all the versions. The conclusion here is how fast Oracle makes new versions.

 

by: slokPosted on 2001-03-29 at 23:57:46ID: 5972307

u mention that they have some Oracle install base on IBM machines...

now, are they considering
1. migrating all these onto one powerful machine.. and a new database?

OR

2. purchasing a new database for new projects with new machines...?

if it is 2, I can see where it "may" be cheaper. since IBM or the resellers can do a bundle with DB2 on IBM

but given that they already have Oracle installed base and
probably staffs maintaining and working on that... won't it add cost hiring pple to learn and maintain both Oracle and DB2 ?

just a thought.

 

by: schwertnerPosted on 2001-03-30 at 02:57:12ID: 5972648

The reason of Mr. Slok is very important!

It is very expensive to train new DBAs and staff able to work with DB2. They will also loose all investment in Oracle.

 

by: mlarkin47Posted on 2001-03-30 at 06:08:19ID: 5973044

Note to Slok:

Actually, if they do decide on DB2, they are planning to migrate all existing Oracle DB's to DB2, over a couple of years. They mostly have IBM RS6000 (and some NT) servers with various storage arrays, but are planning to migrate storage only to IBM Shark storage array(s), which I have been told are Raid 5. This is something else I disagree with, no one Raid level is right for all databases.

The other thing I don't understand is how they will migrate some of their more advanced DB's, version 8i releases, using partitions, java, xml, web enabled, etc.

The feeling seems to be that they feel they are being held hostage by Oracle, and want to teach them a lesson, cost or other considerations be damned. There is also the dreaded small contingent of IBM worshippers, who just can't seem to handle change.

BTW, thanks for everyone's input so far, I appreciate it. Even though I am a consultant and will be out of here before any of this affects me, I feel it my duty to advise clients on such issues, and I believe they will be involving me soon in a few meetings.

 

by: dbalaskiPosted on 2001-04-06 at 20:53:28ID: 5994292

I agree with the others --

However,  if Oracle sales reps know that your client is actively being "courted" by  IBM for DB2,  then you'll find that oracle  would be willing to negotiate the price of the contract...

I've seen this done --- and quite effectlvely,
dBalaski

 

by: astaecPosted on 2001-05-31 at 16:30:09ID: 6143776

Greetings.
 
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If you wish to award multiple participants, you can do so by creating a zero point question in the Community Support topic area, include this link and tell them which experts you'd like to award what amounts.  If you'd like to delete this question, use the same process as above, but explain why you think it should be deleted.  Here is the Community Support link:   http://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qList.jsp?ta=commspt
 
You can always click on your profile to see all your open questions, in the event you also have other open items to be resolved.   If your number of Questions Asked is not equal to the number of Answers Graded, choose to VIEW question history, and you'll quickly be able to navigate to your open items to close them as well.
 
I've had excellent help from experts-exchange through the years and find the real key to getting what I need is to remain active in all my questions, responding with results to suggestions until my solution is found, and recommend that highly.
 
Thank you very much for your responsiveness, it is very much appreciated.  
":0)  Asta

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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