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IBM Sets DB2 Database Free (Beer)
Anonymous Coward writes to tell us that in the hopes of winning more developer interest, IBM has released a free version of their DB2 database. From the article: "DB Express-C is the same database as IBM's commercial offerings but the company places limits on what kind of hardware it can run on. It can be deployed on systems with two processor cores or up to two dual-core chips on Advanced Micro Devices- or Intel-based servers. The memory limit is 4GB but there are no limits on the size of database or number of users. "
*puts on his ragged and unused database admin hat*
... and steps into the circle of death that is known as a Slashdot forum*
... well, because I've enjoyed their stuff freely for quite some time. Suddenly, everyone (and their dog) is releasing their once-thousand-dollar database in a free and slightly inhibited form.
... like DB2's memory limit and the castrations of the other databases ... so where do they belong? In the hands of small businesses? A company's "developer camp?"
*paints two large concentric circles on his chest, one inside the other*
*throws off his gloves
Alright, I run a MYSQL database at home for my little crappy web server which no one visits because pictures of me visiting Mexico isn't exactly worth typing a number into your browser. All those details aside, why should I switch to either Microsoft's SQL Server 2005, Oracle 10g or DB2?
I'm a huge MYSQL fan
Why the hell should I even bother thinking about switching to these new databases? And, further more, it seems that most of these newly free databases are not intended for corporate use
And could you be so kind as to make the prior assumption that I know I'm an idiot so you don't need to tell me that. Just give me some nice hard facts that are easy to measurably prove one database has an advantage over another.
By the way, thanks ScuttleMonkey for clarifying that it's "free as in beer." Unfortunately it's only noon and now you've awakened my desire to get slammed over lunch.
My work here is dung.
does mysql do this:
/ techarticle/dm-0511singh/
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/db2/library
MORTAR COMBAT!
DB2 main attractiveness for being free is its feature set. PostgreSQL already has a well developed feature set for a 'free' offering so you may not get as much from it unlike if you migrated from MySQL. No offense to MySQL, but for now its claim to greatness is being 'free' and speed, not having a fully developed feature set.
Bottom line is that this free DB2 should be considered an evaulation kit for a larger deployment more than anything else since its way more than you need for a small system.