Databases for your data!
Most people who use SQL databases have been doing so for years, and already have established platforms in place. But if you’re among those who is just getting started with SQL or looking for better options out there, the following document will help you to choose the right option that works for you and your business. Here are the choices for top SQL databases available in 2017.
Oracle 12c release 2
License: Proprietary
The Oracle database is a relational database used to store information. It treats collection of data as a unit. There’s usually a huge comfort level, no matter what the product or industry, in going with the oldest and most established product on the market. The argument in favor of Oracle 12c, however, doesn’t just involve longevity; the product also supports the most server operating systems and is well-known and respected for its stability, powerful database management functions and virtually unbreakable delivery of data. But perhaps the best argument for this SQL platform is in its name; the “c” in 12c stands for cloud, and the newest Oracle iteration is particularly effective in its ability to manage databases as real cloud services thanks to in-memory data processing and multi-tenant architecture. Additional and impressive features include the new pluggable database function which improves resource usage by making it easy and safe to consolidate databases on fewer servers, and a number of enhancements which increase overall speed of operation. Oracle’s SQL databases have always been an outstanding choice; 12c is even better. It’s available in enterprise, standard and standard one editions, with varying features and pricing to match.
MySQL
License: Open source
MySQL is used by hundreds of thousands of websites as well as being a mainstay for internal applications. It remains (mostly) open-source and free for community users. It works with almost every operating system you can think of and is simple to install and work with.
It also performs extremely well for most of the hardware configuration. Although it does sometimes get quirky in terms of CPU usage and table corruption, and isn’t the best choice for up-scaling. If you’ve got the money and the requirements, Oracle 12c is a better product – but MySQL was the industry standard for a very long time and it’s still the “easiest” choice to make.
Microsoft SQL Server
License: Proprietary
It is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft. A database server is basically a server with large amounts of data that can be accessed by multiple users from remote areas. It implies that any software application running on any system in any part of the world must be able to store or retrieve data from the database server across any network. There are many releases of Microsoft SQL Server until now with the latest release being SQL Server 2016. Microsoft offers a variety of editions for users to choose from with each edition providing different features. Some editions are mentioned below.
• Enterprise
• Standard
• Web
• Business Intelligence
• Workgroup
PostgreSQL
License: Open source
You don’t hear as much about PostgreSQL as the other two entrants on this list acquires maximum target audiences, but PostgreSQL has made a huge mark by handling databases for such powerhouses as Yahoo and Skype as well as lot of online gaming sites – and has gained its market size by poaching longtime Oracle users. One huge advantage with PostgreSQL is that it’s open-source, but it has large operational advantages like: multi-version concurrency control, hot backups, asynchronous replication and support for table spaces among them. PostgreSQL scales very well, is quite easy to manage and use and plays well with all major operating systems. And if you’re looking for help or suggestions, there’s a very active PostgreSQL community which has contributed greatly to the development and improvement of the database.
MariaDB
License: Open source
One of the most popular Open Source relational databases MariaDB was created by the same set of people who created MySQL(which was acquired by Oracle). The need of creating an alternative to MySQl made way for the development of MariaDB.
MariaDB is built on modern architecture that gives it flexibility that supports emerging market usage.
Some of the points that makes MariaDB so popular
Efficient Storage Engines
MariaDB comes along with plugin and storage engines like Connect and Cassandra storage engines for NoSQL backends; rolling migrations from legacy databases; Spider for sharding; TokuDB with fractal indexes etc.Most of these are availble for MySQL through third party. However, MariaDB is released with these and hence it makes it effecient and easy to use.
Performance excellence
It has developed an improved query optimizer and other performance related check which practically makes it faster than MySQL. However, these claims by MariaDB are outcome of situation based comparrison.
Easy to migrate
If you are using the same base version of MySQL, you can practically uninstall it and install MariaDB and you are good to go.
Migrating to MariaDB is as easy as installing MariaDB or the equivalent command on your chosen Linux flavor.
