Introduction
Often people in newsgroups ask about some comparison of Oracle and
Microsoft SQL Server. In this article, I compare SQL Server 2000
with Oracle 9i Database regarding price, performance, platforms
supported, SQL dialects and products limits.
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, Oracle 9i Database supports all known
platforms, including Windows-based platforms, AIX-Based Systems, Compaq
Tru64 UNIX, HP 9000 Series HP-UX, 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
|
Oracle 9i supports Intel or compatible platforms, AIX-Based Systems,
Compaq Tru64 UNIX, HP 9000 Series HP-UX, Linux Intel, Sun Solaris
and so on.
To install Oracle 9i under the Intel or compatible platforms, you
should have the following hardware:
|
Hardware
|
Requirements
|
|---|
|
Processor
|
Pentium 166 MHz or higher
|
|
Memory
|
RAM: 128 MB (256 MB recommended)
Virtual Memory: Initial Size 200 MB, Maximum Size 400 MB
|
|
Hard disk space
|
140 MB on the System Drive
plus 4.5 GB for the Oracle Home Drive (FAT)
or 2.8 GB for the Oracle Home Drive (NTFS)
|
To install Oracle 9i Database under the UNIX Systems, such as AIX-Based
Systems, Compaq Tru64 UNIX, HP 9000 Series HP-UX, Linux Intel, and Sun
Solaris, you should have the following hardware:
|
Hardware
|
Requirements
|
|---|
|
Memory
|
A minimum of 512 MB RAM
|
|
Swap Space
|
A minimum of 2 x RAM or 400 MB, whichever is greater
|
|
Hard disk space
|
4.5 GB
|
Software requirements
SQL Server 2000 comes in six editions: Enterprise, Standard, Personal,
Developer, Desktop Engine, and SQL Server CE (a compatible version for
Windows CE) and requires the following software:
|
Operating System
|
Enterprise Edition
|
Standard Edition
|
Personal Edition
|
Developer Edition
|
Desktop Engine
|
SQL Server CE
|
|---|
|
Windows CE
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Windows 9x
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows NT 4.0 Workstation with Service Pack 5
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows NT 4.0 Server with Service Pack 5
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows NT 4.0 Server Enterprise Edition with Service Pack 5
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows 2000 Professional
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows 2000 Server
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows 2000 Advanced Server
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows 2000 DataCenter
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Windows XP Professional
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Oracle 9i Database comes in three editions: Enterprise, Standard and Personal
and requires the following software:
|
Platform
|
Operating System Version
|
Required Patches
|
|---|
|
Windows-based
|
Windows NT 4.0
|
Service Pack 5
|
|
Windows-based
|
Windows 2000
|
Service Pack 1
|
|
Windows-based
|
Windows XP
|
Not Necessary
|
|
AIX-Based
|
AIX 4.3.3
|
Maintenance Level 09 and IY24568,
IY25282, IY27614, IY30151
|
|
AIX-Based
|
AIX 5.1
|
AIX 5L release 5.1 ML01+ (IY22854),
IY26778, IY28766, IY28949, IY29965, IY30150
|
|
Compaq Tru64 UNIX
|
Tru64 5.1
|
5.1 patchkit 4
|
|
Compaq Tru64 UNIX
|
Tru64 5.1A
|
5.1A patchkit 1
|
|
HP-UX
|
HP-UX version 11.0 (64-bit)
|
Sept. 2001 Quality Pack, PHCO_23792,
PHCO_24148, PHKL_24268, PHKL_24729,
PHKL_ 25475, PHKL_25525, PHNE_24715,
PHSS_23670, PHSS_24301, PHSS_24303,
PHSS_24627, PHSS_22868
|
|
Linux
|
SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7
(or SLES-7) with kernel 2.4.7,
and glibc 2.2.2
|
Not Necessary
|
|
Sun Solaris
|
Solaris 32-Bit 2.6 (5.6), 7 (5.7)
or 8 (5.8)
|
Not Necessary
|
|
Sun Solaris
|
Solaris 64-Bit 8 (5.8)
|
Update 5
|
