If you could work on any database you want

[TheWizardofInt]

We are switching servers, meaning we will be upgrading databases, at the place that just hired me

 

Right now they are on a Novel network superimposed over a Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows XP Pro work stations, and using Sybase v8, so no matter what, it is going to be a nightmare.

 

Personally, I am about to put a gun to my head for the difficulty of managing the whole thing, and all I do program

 

This is a three developer shop supporting a web app used world wide, probably 30 clients and the largest table in the database having over 1,000,000 records, but less than 2,000,000

 

I would personally say 'Get on a 2003 server and migrate the data to MySQL v5," which I personally like as a server and a database.

 

I wanted some other opinions - the place has plenty of cash for the transfer, and IMHO the upgrade of the existing situation to another just like it is the most expensive way to go

[grip003]

My favorite database to use is MySQL. I have written many different database applications, and I always use MySQL. Currently, I have an account's receivable system that I wrote for a propane company running on MySQL 4, I have a number of accounting applications also running on MySQL 4 for a management company, and I have 6 separate Verizon Wireless locations connecting to a MySQL 5 database for their POS systems I developed. I haven't had a single problem with any of them. I wrote a backup utility that simply copies databases (folders in the data directory) to a backup location. All that you need to do to restore a backup is to stop the server and copy the folder over the current one (in the data folder) and then start the server back up.

 

I first chose MySQL because it was free, but if I could buy anything I think I would still go with MySQL. There are a few GUI front ends for the database, but I ended up writing my own. It seems to work ok for most tasks, but it needs some work still.

[Gill Bates]

I've used pretty much every DBMS at one point or another and I have to say, without a doubt, SQL Server destroys all competitors. And now, with SQL Server 2005, the disparity is even more grotesque. The ability to leverage .NET CLR integration within the database is extremely powerful.