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  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Databases
  4. Databases
  5. Microsoft SQL Server vs Sybase

Microsoft SQL Server vs Sybase

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Stacks21.3K
Followers15.5K
Votes540
Sybase
Sybase
Stacks41
Followers80
Votes10

Microsoft SQL Server vs Sybase: What are the differences?

Both Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase are relational database management systems that offer similar functionalities but have distinct characteristics and features. Let's explore the key differences between Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase.

  1. Concurrency Control and Transaction Isolation Levels: Microsoft SQL Server supports multiple concurrency control mechanisms and provides a wide range of transaction isolation levels, including READ UNCOMMITTED, READ COMMITTED, REPEATABLE READ, and SERIALIZABLE. Sybase, on the other hand, offers a limited set of transaction isolation levels, with the default being REPEATABLE READ. SQL Server provides more flexibility in managing concurrent transactions and offers higher levels of isolation.

  2. Partitioning and Parallel Processing: Microsoft SQL Server provides built-in support for partitioning large tables and allows parallel query execution, enhancing performance and scalability in data-intensive scenarios. Sybase, however, lacks built-in partitioning capabilities and has limited support for parallel processing. SQL Server outperforms Sybase in handling large datasets and executing complex queries more efficiently.

  3. Business Intelligence (BI) Integration: Microsoft SQL Server offers tight integration with the Microsoft BI platform, including tools such as SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). These tools enable seamless data integration, analytical processing, and reporting services. Although Sybase supports BI functionalities to some extent, it lacks the comprehensive integration and rich set of tools provided by SQL Server.

  4. Availability and High Availability (HA) Solutions: Microsoft SQL Server provides various high availability solutions, such as Always On Availability Groups and Failover Cluster Instances, which ensure continuous database access and minimize downtime. Sybase offers similar HA solutions like Replication Server and Cluster Edition, but they may not provide the same level of scalability, ease-of-use, and flexibility offered by SQL Server's HA features.

  5. Development and Management Tools: Microsoft SQL Server offers a comprehensive set of development and management tools, including SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for database administration, Visual Studio for application development, and Azure Data Studio for cross-platform database management. Sybase provides its own management tools like Sybase Central and SQL Advantage, but they may not match the extensive features and integration provided by the Microsoft toolset.

  6. Platform Compatibility and Support: Microsoft SQL Server runs primarily on Windows operating systems and has excellent support for Windows-based enterprise environments. Sybase, on the other hand, supports both Windows and UNIX platforms, making it a more suitable choice for heterogeneous environments. Depending on the specific platform requirements, SQL Server or Sybase can be preferred based on their compatibility and support options.

In summary, Microsoft SQL Server offers enhanced concurrency control and transaction isolation levels, built-in partitioning and parallel processing capabilities, comprehensive BI integration, advanced high availability solutions, a rich set of development and management tools, and excellent support for Windows-based environments. Sybase, on the other hand, has platform compatibility advantages and may be suitable for heterogeneous environments.

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Advice on Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase

Erin
Erin

IT Specialist

Mar 10, 2020

Needs adviceonMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL ServerMySQLMySQLPostgreSQLPostgreSQL

I am a Microsoft SQL Server programmer who is a bit out of practice. I have been asked to assist on a new project. The overall purpose is to organize a large number of recordings so that they can be searched. I have an enormous music library but my songs are several hours long. I need to include things like time, date and location of the recording. I don't have a problem with the general database design. I have two primary questions:

  1. I need to use either @{MySQL}|tool:1025| or @{PostgreSQL}|tool:1028| on a @{Linux}|tool:10483| based OS. Which would be better for this application?
  2. I have not dealt with a sound based data type before. How do I store that and put it in a table? Thank you.
668k views668k
Comments

Detailed Comparison

Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Sybase
Sybase

Microsoft® SQL Server is a database management and analysis system for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.

Modernize and accelerate your transaction-based applications on premise and in the cloud. This high-performance SQL database server uses a relational management model to meet rising demand for performance, reliability, and efficiency in every industry.

-
Faster, more secure transfer of database files; Multiversion concurrency control (MVCC); Three-system monitoring procedures
Statistics
Stacks
21.3K
Stacks
41
Followers
15.5K
Followers
80
Votes
540
Votes
10
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 139
    Reliable and easy to use
  • 101
    High performance
  • 95
    Great with .net
  • 65
    Works well with .net
  • 56
    Easy to maintain
Cons
  • 4
    Expensive Licensing
  • 2
    Microsoft
  • 1
    Replication can loose the data
  • 1
    Allwayon can loose data in asycronious mode
  • 1
    The maximum number of connections is only 14000 connect
Pros
  • 1
    SAP Replication server este net superior replicarii din
  • 1
    SAP Replication server is clearly superior to MS SQL Se
  • 1
    HADR does not lose data is superior to Allwayson which
  • 1
    Max number of connection is 350000
  • 1
    HADR dont loose data

What are some alternatives to Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase?

MongoDB

MongoDB

MongoDB stores data in JSON-like documents that can vary in structure, offering a dynamic, flexible schema. MongoDB was also designed for high availability and scalability, with built-in replication and auto-sharding.

MySQL

MySQL

The MySQL software delivers a very fast, multi-threaded, multi-user, and robust SQL (Structured Query Language) database server. MySQL Server is intended for mission-critical, heavy-load production systems as well as for embedding into mass-deployed software.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is an advanced object-relational database management system that supports an extended subset of the SQL standard, including transactions, foreign keys, subqueries, triggers, user-defined types and functions.

SQLite

SQLite

SQLite is an embedded SQL database engine. Unlike most other SQL databases, SQLite does not have a separate server process. SQLite reads and writes directly to ordinary disk files. A complete SQL database with multiple tables, indices, triggers, and views, is contained in a single disk file.

Cassandra

Cassandra

Partitioning means that Cassandra can distribute your data across multiple machines in an application-transparent matter. Cassandra will automatically repartition as machines are added and removed from the cluster. Row store means that like relational databases, Cassandra organizes data by rows and columns. The Cassandra Query Language (CQL) is a close relative of SQL.

Memcached

Memcached

Memcached is an in-memory key-value store for small chunks of arbitrary data (strings, objects) from results of database calls, API calls, or page rendering.

MariaDB

MariaDB

Started by core members of the original MySQL team, MariaDB actively works with outside developers to deliver the most featureful, stable, and sanely licensed open SQL server in the industry. MariaDB is designed as a drop-in replacement of MySQL(R) with more features, new storage engines, fewer bugs, and better performance.

RethinkDB

RethinkDB

RethinkDB is built to store JSON documents, and scale to multiple machines with very little effort. It has a pleasant query language that supports really useful queries like table joins and group by, and is easy to setup and learn.

ArangoDB

ArangoDB

A distributed free and open-source database with a flexible data model for documents, graphs, and key-values. Build high performance applications using a convenient SQL-like query language or JavaScript extensions.

InfluxDB

InfluxDB

InfluxDB is a scalable datastore for metrics, events, and real-time analytics. It has a built-in HTTP API so you don't have to write any server side code to get up and running. InfluxDB is designed to be scalable, simple to install and manage, and fast to get data in and out.

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