Introduction
Often people in newsgroups ask for a comparison of Oracle and DB2. In this article, I compare Oracle 9i Database with DB2 Universal Database version 8.1 regarding price, performance, platforms supported, SQL dialectsand products limits.
Platform comparison
Both Oracle 9i Database and DB2 Universal Database version 8.1 supportall known platforms, including Windows-based platforms, AIX-Based Systems,HP-UX systems, Linux Intel, Sun Solaris and so on.
Hardware requirements
To install Oracle 9i under the Windows-based platforms, you should havethe 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-BasedSystems, Compaq Tru64 UNIX, HP 9000 Series HP-UX, Linux Intel, and SunSolaris, 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
|
To install DB2 Universal Database v8.1 under the Windows-based platforms,you should have the following hardware:
|
Hardware
|
Requirements
|
|
Processor
|
Pentium
or Pentium compatible CPU
|
|
Memory
|
RAM:
256 MB minimum,
additional memory may be required.
|
|
Hard disk space
|
Typical
installation: 350 Mb minimum
Compact installation: 100 Mb minimum
Custom installation: 100 Mb minimum.
Additional disk space may be required
on FAT drives with large cluster size.
|
To install DB2 Universal Database v8.1 under the UNIX Systems, suchas AIX-based systems, HP-UX systems, Linux and Sun Solaris, you shouldhave the following hardware:
|
Hardware
|
Requirements
|
|
Processor
|
For
AIX:
IBM RISC/6000 or eServer pSeries.
For HP-UX:
HP 9000 series 700 or 800 system.
For Linux:
Intel 32-bit,
Intel 64-bit,
S/390 9672 generation or higher,
Multiprise 3000,
eServer z-Series.
For Solaris:
Solaris UltraSPARC-based computer.
|
|
Memory
|
RAM:
256 MB minimum,
additional memory may be required.
|
|
Hard disk space
|
Typical
installation: 450 to 550 Mb minimum
Compact installation: 350 to 400 Mb minimum
Custom installation: 350 to 700 Mb minimum.
|
Software requirements
Oracle 9i Database comes in three editions: Enterprise, Standard and Personaland 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
|
DB2 Universal Database v8.1 comes in six editions:7 DB2 Enterprise Server Edition (ESE)7 DB2 Workgroup Server Edition (WSE)7 DB2 Workgroup Server Unlimited Edition (WSUE)7 DB2 Personal Edition (PE)7 DB2 Universal Developer's Edition (UDE)7 DB2 Personal Developer's Edition (PDE)and requires the following software:
|
Platform
|
Operating System
Version
|
Required Patches
|
|
Windows-based
|
Windows
NT 4.0
|
Service
Pack 6a or higher
|
|
Windows-based
|
Windows
2000
|
Service
Pack 2 is required for
Windows Terminal Server
|
|
Windows-based
|
Windows
XP
|
Not
Necessary
|
|
AIX-Based
|
AIX
4.3.3 (32-bit)
|
Maintenance
Level 9 or later, and
APARs IY22308, Y32690, and IY33024
|
|
AIX-Based
|
AIX 5L
(32-bit)
|
Maintenance
Level 2 or later
|
|
AIX-Based
|
AIX
5.1.0 (32-bit)
|
Maintenance
Level 2 or later, and
APARs IY31254, IY32217, IY32905,
IY33023, and IY29345
|
|
AIX-Based
|
AIX
5.1.0 (64-bit)
|
Maintenance
Level 2 or later, and
APARs IY31254, IY32217, IY32905,
Y33023, and IY32466
|
|
HP-UX
|
HP-UX
11i
|
December
2001 GOLDBASE11i,
December 2001 GOLDAPPS11i bundles
|
|
Linux
|
For
Intel 32-bit:
7 kernel level 2.4.9 or later
7 glibc 2.2.4 or later
7 RPM 3 or later
For Intel 64-bit and z-Series:
7 Red Hat Linux 7.2
7 SuSE Linux SLES-7
|
Not
Necessary
|
|
Sun Solaris
|
Solaris
7 (32-bit)
|
patch
106327-10
|
|
Sun Solaris
|
Solaris
7 (64-bit)
|
patch
106300-11
|
|
Sun Solaris
|
Solaris
8 (32-bit)
|
patch
108434-03 and 108528-12
|
|
Sun Solaris
|
Solaris
8 (64-bit)
|
patch
108435-03 and 108528-12
|
|
Sun Solaris
|
Solaris
9
|
Not
Necessary
|
» 
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