Open Source Daabase Managment Systems

Open Source Database Management Systems

Simply having a computerized database management system (DBMS) in no way guarantees that managers will properly utilize the data to provide the best solutions for an organization. A DBMS is simply a tool for managing data and desired results will only be attained when it is used effectively. Implementation of a DBMS will most likely have a profound impact throughout an organization and the selection process has three major considerations; technological, managerial, and cultural (Rob & Coronel, 2004 pp. 714-715).

Technological consideration includes selecting, configuring, implementing and maintaining the DBMS to make certain that data storage, access, and security are efficiently handled (Rob & Coronel, 2004 pp. 714-715). When introducing a DBMS, the managerial impact should not be taken lightly since the organizational structure must accommodate the individuals responsible for administering the DBMS. Mangers must be committed to the system and be willing to support the functions and goals. Cultural impact is sometimes overlooked and needs to be assessed very carefully. Many times corporations do not place enough weight on the impact a new DBMS will have on staff and interrelationships. Not only will there be a more controlled environment, but the mere existence of a DBMS may require additional personnel and new job responsibilities.

While large enterprises require complex database systems which support terabytes of data, thousands of users, and require a highly trained support staff, most businesses have more modest needs. The main players in the RDBMS arena are IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft and most organizations have implemented one or more instances of these three major vendor’s products.

Changing RDBMS vendors is not a simple task because the features and syntax of each product differ, requiring costly and time-consuming application changes. However, open source DBMSs have now reached a high level of evolution and are viewed as a functionally adequate alternative to commercial DBMSs. The term "open source" refers to software that users are free to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve (Open Source, 2005). Open source IT management solutions have opened many new doors for greater flexibility, particularly for managing home grown applications and service-oriented architectures. Additionally, open source makes sense especially when there has been a failed attempt at implementing a commercial IT management tool, a company has mission-critical custom applications or when there is in-house expertise. The key driver for this technology is lower cost. I have researched three open source database management systems which are making headlines in today’s technology arena; PostgreSQL, InterBase, and MySQL.

PostgreSQL, commonly referred to as simply Postgres, is an object-relational database mangement system and is not controlled by any single company, but instead relies on a global community of developers and companiesfor its development (Wikipedia, PostgreSQL). PostgreSQL began at the University of California, Berkeley as the second generation of Ingres, and now represents the collective work of hundreds of developers (Berkeley, Research). Both Ingres and Postgres were the brainchildren of Michael Stonebraker. Postgres runs on Microsoft Windows, Unix-compatible platforms, and Solaris operating systems and is released under a Berkeley-style license, which allows companies to take the software and add proprietary extensions (Berkeley, Research).

On February 4, 2008, The PostgreSQL Global Development Group announced the release of version 8.3. This high performance version includes a record number of new and improved features which will greatly enhance PostgreSQL for application designers, database administrators, and users. Version 8.3 also includes more than 280 patches by dozens of contributors from 18 countries (PostgreSQL Press, 2008). Consistency of performance is a major enhancement, along with the fact that it is the first open source database to implement �Synchronized Scan’, which greatly reduces I/O for data mining. Postgres continues to evolve, providing users with the option of deploying a non-proprietary database, which in turn allows them to save money, improve performance and increase productivity (PostgreSQL, Press).

InterBase is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed and marketed by CodeGear, and is another option for users desiring an open source RDBMS (Wikipedia, InterBase). InterBase is distinguished from other DBMSs by its small footprint, close to zero administration requirements, multi-generational architecture and the ability to run on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Solaris operating systems. The server uses very little memory when idle, and it is a true open source software, meaning you can obtain and modify the source, under the stipulation that you share your modifications with others. Moving InterBase to the open source model was a wise decision because of the fierce competition from Oracle, IBM, Informix, Sybase, and Microsoft. New InterBase users will experience easy installation, practically zero maintenance, small RAM and disk space footprints, automatic crash recovery, and online backup (CodeGear, 2007).

The final product I researched was MySQL, a true multi-user, multi-threaded SQL database server. The basic program runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases (Wikipedia, MySQL). It is available as a free download but it is not technically an open source DBMS (MySQL, Freedom). Available under a dual licensing model, commercial license and a general public license, MySQL has