A Comparison of SQL Server 2000 With Sybase ASE 12.5

Introduction

Often people in newsgroups ask about some comparison of Microsoft
SQL Server and Sybase Adaptive Server. In this article, I compare
SQL Server 2000 with Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise 12.5
(Sybase ASE 12.5) regarding price, performance, platforms supported,
SQL dialects, and products limits.

Platform comparison

SQL Server 2000 only works on Windows-based platforms, including Windows 9x,
Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows CE.
In comparison with SQL Server 2000, Sybase ASE 12.5 supports all known
platforms, including Windows-based platforms, AIX-based systems, HP-UX
systems, Linux Intel, Sun Solaris and so on.

Hardware requirements

To install SQL Server 2000, you should have the Intel or compatible
platforms and the following hardware:

Hardware Requirements
Processor Pentium 166 MHz or higher
Memory 32 MB RAM (minimum for Desktop Engine),
64 MB RAM (minimum for all other editions),
128 MB RAM or more recommended
Hard disk space 270 MB (full installation),
250 MB (typical),
95 MB (minimum),
Desktop Engine: 44 MB
Analysis Services: 50 MB minimum and 130 MB typical
English Query: 80 MB

Sybase ASE 12.5 supports Windows-based platforms, AIX-based systems,
HP-UX systems, Linux Intel, Silicon Graphics, Sun Solaris and so on.

To install Sybase ASE 12.5 under the Windows-based platforms, you
should have the following hardware:

Hardware Requirements
Processor Pentium or Pentium compatible CPU
Memory 48 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5,
plus memory for the operation system and other programs.
Hard disk space

Adaptive Server 12.5 110MB
jConnect 4.5 4.5MB
jConnect 5.5 4.5MB
jutilities (Cascade Gateway, jisql, Ribo) 6MB
jConnect documentation 0.5MB
Open Client/C 133MB
Monitor Client Library 4MB
Monitor Server 12.5 3.5MB
Historical Server 6MB
Adaptive Server plug-in for Sybase Central 13MB
Enhanced Full-Text Search 70MB
EJB Server 420MB

To install Sybase ASE 12.5 under the AIX-based systems, you should
have the following hardware:

Hardware Requirements
Processor IBM RISC System 6000 32-bit,
IBM RISC System 6000, Model S70, 64-bit
Memory 64 MB for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for IBM RS/6000 32-bit),
92 MB for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for IBM RS/6000 64-bit),
plus memory for the operation system and other programs.
Hard disk space

Adaptive Server 12.5 235MB
jConnect 4.5 5.5MB
jConnect 5.5 5.5MB
jutilities (Cascade Gateway, jisql, Ribo) 6MB
jConnect documentation 8MB
Open Client/C 12.5 115MB
Language Modules (Server 12.5) 2-7MB per language
Language Modules (Open Client 12.5) 3-6MB per language
Monitor Client Library 12.5 7.9MB
Monitor Server 12.5 4MB
Monitor Historical Server 12.5 6MB
Enhanced Full-Text Search 75MB

To install Sybase ASE 12.5 under the HP-UX systems, you should
have the following hardware:

Hardware Requirements
Processor HP 9000/800 32-bit, HP 9000/800 64-bit
Memory 64 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for HP 9000/800 32-bit),
90 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for HP 9000/800 64-bit),
plus memory for the operation system and other programs.
Hard disk space

Adaptive Server 12.5 191MB
jConnect 4.5 4.5MB
jConnect 5.5 4.5MB
jutilities (Cascade Gateway, jisql, Ribo) 6MB
jConnect documentation 6MB
Open Client/C 12.5 244MB
Language Modules (Server 12.5) 2-7MB per language
Language Modules (Open Client 12.5) 3-6MB per language
Monitor Client Library 12.5 4MB
Monitor Server 12.5 3MB
Monitor Historical Server 12.5 6MB
Enhanced Full-Text Search 70MB
EJB Server 32-bit platforms only 420MB

To install Sybase ASE 12.5 under the Linux Intel platform, you should
have the following hardware:

Hardware Requirements
Processor Pentium II, 230 MHz or higher
Memory 50 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5,
plus memory for the operation system and other programs.
Hard disk space

Adaptive Server 12.5 115MB
Sybase Common package 100MB
Open Client/C 12.5 120MB
Language Modules (Server 12.5) 2-7MB per language
Language Modules (Open Client 12.5) 3-6MB per language
Enhanced Full-Text Search 65MB
Sybase-esql 4MB
Sybase Openserver 45MB

To install Sybase ASE 12.5 under the Silicon Graphics platform, you
should have the following hardware:

Hardware Requirements
Processor MIPS IV or higher
Memory 32 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for SGI IRIX 32-bit),
64 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for SGI IRIX 64-bit),
plus memory for the operation system and other programs.
Hard disk space

Adaptive Server 12.5 245-270MB
jConnect 4.2 5MB
jConnect 5.2 5MB
jutilities (Cascade Gateway, jisql, Ribo) 6MB
jConnect documentation 8MB
Open Client/C 12.5 117-130MB
Language Modules (Server 12.5) 2-7MB per language
Language Modules (Open Client 12.5) 3-6MB per language
Monitor Server 12.5 3.9MB
Monitor Historical Server 12.5 6.8MB
Sybase Central 13MB

To install Sybase ASE 12.5 under the Sun Solaris, you should have
the following hardware:

Hardware Requirements
Processor Sun Solaris 32-bit, Sun Solaris 64-bit
Memory 66 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for Sun Solaris 32-bit),
92 MB minimum for the Sybase ASE 12.5 (for Sun Solaris 64-bit),
plus memory for the operation system and other programs.
Hard disk space

Adaptive Server 12.5 155MB
jConnect 4.5 4.5MB
jConnect 5.5 4.5MB
jutilities (Cascade Gateway, jisql, Ribo) 6MB
jConnect documentation 0.5MB
Open Client/C 12.5 SDK 183MB
Language Modules (Server 12.5) 2-7MB per language
Language Modules (Open Client 12.5) 3-6MB per language
Adaptive Server Monitor Server 12.5 3.5MB
Monitor Historical Server 12.5 6MB
Monitor Client Library 12.5 4MB
Enhanced Full-Text Search 70MB
EJB Server 32-bit platforms only 420MB

Alexander Chigrik
Alexander Chigrik
I am the owner of MSSQLCity.Com - a site dedicated to providing useful information for IT professionals using Microsoft SQL Server. This site contains SQL Server Articles, FAQs, Scripts, Tips and Test Exams.

Get the Free Newsletter!

Subscribe to Cloud Insider for top news, trends & analysis

Latest Articles