A DATABASE QUERY




By Russell C. Pavlicek




Posted March 07, 2003 3:00 PM Pacific Time




One of the more common queries I hear is, "What database


should I use under Linux?" That is actually a pleasantly


difficult question, because there are a number of choices


that depend on what you want to do.




If you are looking for a large commercial database such as


Oracle or DB2 to run on Linux, the solution may be just to


run Oracle or DB2. Many of the most prominent commercial


databases established a presence in the Linux world years


ago, so you can often stay with your current database vendor


under Linux if you wish to.




But if you are looking for open-source alternatives, there are


several. One of the most visible options is MySQL


(www.mysql.com). Unlike most commercial databases, MySQL is


less concerned with having every possible feature and more


concerned with maximizing speed. As a result, some database


administrators make the mistake of thinking MySQL is a "toy"


because it currently does not have support for stored


procedures, triggers, and views.




But MySQL is no toy. It's an extremely fast, sleek engine


favored by Web designers for years. The few features it lacks


will arrive, but only after the core team deems them fast


enough to meet the project's speed requirements. The


developers refuse to slow down the engine's trademark


quickness for the sake of adding features that are unused by


a large number of customers.




During the frantic era of the dot-com boom, many organizations


started using MySQL to power their Web pages. Its fast


queries, minimal administration, and zero acquisition cost


made it a winner. But in the aftermath, these organizations


are discovering that this "little" database can do a whole


lot.




On the other side of the coin is PostgreSQL


(www.postgresql.com). Begun as a research project at the


University of California at Berkeley in the mid 1980s,


PostgreSQL is a database engine focused on stability and high


volume. It boasts an impressive array of features,


availability on a wide number of Unix platforms, and it will


feature native Windows compatibility with its next release.


It also includes GUIs for database administration under both


Linux and Windows.




PostgreSQL is a solid engine that has seen significant


improvements over the years. It is also becoming quite


popular with organizations seeking open-source solutions to


large databases.




Another open-source database that is beginning to turn heads


is Firebird (firebird.sourceforge.net). Born of the opening


of Interbase's source code, Firebird seems to be gathering


fans in the open-source world. Given Interbase's long


history, Firebird is quite mature for a relatively new


open-source entry.




Which one of these open-source database engines fits your


needs? That's up to you. And since they are open source, you


don't need some expensive contract just to try them out. You


can simply download them and begin testing, or better yet


just install them from most common Linux distributions.






Russell Pavlicek is an independent open-source consultant.


Contact him at pavlicek@....