Oracle database vs. SQL Server
Siddharth Shah wrote:
Hi,
I have heard that there is something within Pentium 3
that whenever you go online, it connects with
Microsoft and lets them know whether you are using a
registered or unregistered software. Does anyone have
any idea about this?
Also, can someone point me out the advantages and
disadvantages of Oracle and SQL Server. Is there a web
site which points out the differences?
Thank you in advance.
Siddharth Shah
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1999 12:49:56 -0700
From: "sean smith" kiowasean@zdnetmail.com
Subject: RE: Technical Question!
With regard to the Oracle database vs. SQL Server question, there have been
two items I've seen recently. One was in PC Magazine (ziff-davis publishes
this and alway's seems a little to Microsoft friendly to me.) The PC
magazine article found that in small to mid-sized enterprizes, with
correspondingly low budgets, SQL Server was the product of choice. The same
article indicated that most database product licenses prohibit the
publication of "benchmarks."
There is also a web site hosted by the Relational Database Council, that has
permission and does some benchmarking. On their site, Oracle is the
consisent winner.
The final word on which database is best is probably, "it depends" on
factors ranging from hardware, to support and what products are running on
the database. I would have to say that for proven performance in large
enterprises, that Oracle is the current champion.
On the PIII question, what Intel did was to put a "serial number" on each
chip. Web site's have the ability to "prove" that someone signed on to
their site was using a computer with that unique serial number. Pretty good
proof of who purchased something from you for purposes of e-commerce. Intel
announced that they were taking the feature off, due to privacy concerns.
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 18:57:23 -0500
From: "Hostetler, Don" Don.Hostetler@impacgroup.com
Subject: RE: Technical Question! - Oracle vs. SQL Server
Sean you are right on the money. We performed a stress test with about 300
concurrent users on a SQL Server/NT platform and the server could not handle
the load. The system failed the stress test based upon our application
design relative to SQL server's architecture regarding sequence generation.
We then installed Oracle utilizing the same hardware and operating system
and the server handled the load with about 50% of the system's resources.
Again I would like to state, this test was specific to our application
design.
Regards,
Don Hostetler
Government Cos. using 10.7 Mfg
Pico Ritch-P28386 Ritch.Pico@motorola.com 07/14/99 09:51AM
Are there any companies out there that are currently using Oracle 10.7 or
higher (manufacturing modules)in the Government environment?. We use
Project & Task for labor, inventory, receipts, basically for all tracking
issues. We would like to know if there are any other companies in this
situation, and how they are working this.
Thanks,
Ritch Pico!
Oracle Phase II Implementation
Motorola CE, CGISS, SSG
Space Systems and Services Division (SSSD)
8220 E. Roosevelt, M/D R3238
Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Ph(602)441-4069,
Pager 599-9504,
FAX 441-6181
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1999 15:05:58 -0600
From: "Deborah Linke" LINKE@wapa.gov
To: oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca, Ritch.Pico@motorola.com
Subject: Re: Government Issues
Hi Pico. Western Area Power Administration is a federal agency presently
using
version 10.7SC in an HP-UX, Citrix environment. We have General Ledger,
Project
Accounting, Purchasing, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Fixed Assets,
Discoverer, and Tutor in production.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Best regards,
Deborah Linke
303-275-1618
Named Users vs. Concurrent Users
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 22:42:04 MYT-8
From: philip@aleytys.pc.my
Subject: GEN: Named Users vs. Concurrent Users
Dear All,
Our support contract is up for renewal and the Oracle Customer
Supportdroid called me up and told me that we have to convert from
concurrent users to named users. I think she also said that 1 concurrent
user equals two concurrent users. Also now there seems to be a
distinction between casual users and normal users. I didn't get much
sense from that conversation.
Can anyone here explain what Oracle's current policy is? Everytime we
renew our contract the way they work out the number of users changes and
the net effect is a price hike. I have a bad feeling that I'm going to
have to explain to the Finance VP why there is a big hole in my budget
this financial year.
Philip
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 15:52:32 -0400
From: "Kurylo, Mary" Kuryma@consumer.org
Subject: RE: Named Users vs. Concurrent Users
Our contract expired at the end of May. I didn't have to change from
concurrent to named.
My understanding of how the pricing works is that there is a flat fee per
Module (except Alert which is based on # of concurrent users.)
If you do any development then there are additional fees for AOL, C,
SQL*Plus, Developer. These are also based on # of concurrent users.
Then there is a Server fee based on # of concurrent users and a Tech Fee
also based on # of concurrent users.
I also know that there were drastic changes made to Oracle support pricing
for their web server. I believe that it went from # of concurrent users to
# of processors (at a different rate of course.)
Oracle fiscal year ended in May, and they may have made more changes. It's
frustrating that they change it so often. I don't think I have two proposals
that are even worded the same, so that I can made a comparison from year to
year.
Bottom line... if you're confused, call you sales rep and don't let him/her
off the phone until you fully understand what the quote is for and why it's
so differnt from last year.
Mary Kurylo
Applications Development Analyst
Consumers Union of US Inc.
kuryma@consumer.org
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 16:43:54 -0400
From: John Raams jraams@mvest.com
Subject: RE: Named Users vs. Concurrent Users
Mary is in the main correct. Oracle does NOT sell by the module anymore it
now sells by named users. If you are existing customer, you may be able to
get the Oracle sales person to sell you concurrent user licenses for your
existing applications. Your sales person may say NO depending on how your
original contract is written.
The main modules are now sold in Bundles e.g. : Oracle financials bundle
GL,AP,AR,CM,FA is one bundle and is sold by named users / not concurrent..
The good thing about it is that if you are a named user in any of the
financial modules you are also a user of the rest of the financials modules.
Some modules that I am aware of that are still sold separately are, Oracle
service or Oracle sales compensation. most of the rest are sold in bundles
with named and casual users. Some other applications etc are still sold as
concurrent licenses. Its a real mishmash
I also believe that the minimum number of named users you can buy is 25 for
Fins and 50 for manufacturing. This I believe can be broken up into named
and casual users. Again please speak to your Oracle sales staff to get a
definitive statement and get it in writing.
Keep smiling.
John Raams
Executive Vice President & General Manager,
Enterprise Applications Solutions
mVest Technology Solutions
14 Campus Boulevard, Suite 250
Newtown Square, PA 19073-3287
Office Telephone: 610 359 0270 Ext: 304
Cell phone: 610 513 2308
Fax: 610 359 0271
www.mvest.com
Data flow diagrams between OE-INV-PO
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 14:11:20 -0400
From: John Sweeney jsweeney@goaa.org
Subject: OE-INV-PO - data flow diagrams needed
We are running Oracle Financials 10.7 SC161 on RDBMS 8.0.5 and Sun Solaris
plaform. We are running PO,OE,INV,PA,AP,AR,GL, and CE. PO,AP,AR, and GL
are the Govt versions of these modules. We are also running Oracle HR.
I am looking for a documented data flow diagram or list of:
1. Top Level Flow chart of all Oracle modules showing the links/data flows
between them
2. Lower level List of actual tables(all tables, including interface and
temp) and their contents that get passed in the interfaces
(ie something similar to the open interface table description in the
technical reference manual - I
don't seem to be able to find the same for the internal interfaces) .
Specifically, I am interested in the relationship between Purchasing, Order
Entry, and Inventory. I'd appreciate if anyone was willing to share
anything. If there is nothing already out there....I will try to create the
diagrams myself (and share if requested).
John Sweeney
GOAA, IT Department
407-825-3280
Phantom Item/Phantom Assembly
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 16:24:10 +0200
From: Sujata.Chary@gemplus.com
Subject: Phantom Item/Phantom Assembly
Hello all,
can any body explain to me what exactly is a phantom item and phantom
assembly is and when & how to use them?
Thanks
SC
Talking to Oracle Application
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 09:39:42 -0400
From: Niraj.Juneaj@sagasoftware.com
Subject: Oracle Applications .. and HOW DO I TALK TO THEM
Hi ,
I am looking for a way to access Oracle Applications .
Is there a way I can talk to Oracle Applications using something like
1. API 's
2. XML DTD'd
3 . OR Some native approach
I know SAP has BAPIS and JD Edwards has its own way . Whats the way for
Oracle Appications.
Your help greatly Appreciated .....
Cheers
Niraj
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 11:17:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kevin Gillins kgillins@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Oracle Applications .. and HOW DO I TALK TO THEM
Oracle SQLPLUS
List of APIs for Oracle Financials
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 07:02:09 PDT
From: "n j" the_2000_man@excite.com
Subject: Oracle Financial API 's
URGENT HELP NEEDED...
I am aware that there are API to access the ORACLE HRMS system . Are their
API's to access Oracle Financial Modules.
I would appreciate if someone could point me to where I could get this
information .
Cheers
Niraj
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 09:07:10 -0500
From: "Matson, Mark J." MatsonMJ@bvsg.com
To: "'oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca'" oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca
Subject: RE: Oracle Financial API 's
Niraj,
Yes there are other APIs for other systems. Please be more specific as to
what you are looking for and what version of the apps you are on...
Mahalo (Thanks).
Mark J. Matson
BV Solutions Group
A Black & Veatch Company
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 07:29:34 PDT
From: "n j" the_2000_man@excite.com
To: oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca
Subject: RE: Oracle Financial API 's
Hi Mark,
I really appreciate your response back. OK here is our problem.
We are an EAI software company and are trying to write adapters that talk
to different ERP's . (We have written adapters for SAP / CICS etc...) Now we
have to write an adapter for Oracle applications.
I am in a stage of gathering information for ways to talk to ORacle
Applications ( I know this is a vast area and I need to be more specific). I
figured out that Oracle HRMS has some API's (I guess in the form of
Procedures and Functions).
My Questions :
1. Where can I find the complete list of all the API's in Oracle HRMS
2. Is there a central place to find all the documentaion for the APIs.
Your Help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Niraj
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 10:50:49 -0400
From: "Bartoletti, Mike" BartolMi@rf.suny.edu
To: "'oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca'" oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca
Subject: RE: Oracle Financial API 's
FIN Uses open interface tables
Michael Bartoletti
Applications Development
Research Foundation of SUNY
ph:(518)434-7204
fx:(518)434-7211
mailto:bartolmi@rfsuny.org
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 10:56:31 -0500
From: "Matson, Mark J." MatsonMJ@bvsg.com
To: "'oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca'" oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca
Subject: RE: Oracle Financial API 's
Niraj,
Log in to Oracle Applications using any responsibility. Then go in to the
Help menu on the menu bar, choose Oracle Applications Library. Once in the
Oracle Applications Library choose Human Resources. In Human Resources
choose New Features (is at the bottom), within New Features choose New APIs,
this will give you a listing of all publicly callable business process APIs
for Human Resources.
I have yet to find a central place that contains info for all APIs. It
seems that every module does it differently. For example, Oracle Projects
(PA) has a set of APIs to maintain project/task data. They call this set
Activity Management Gateway (AMG). It is really just another set of APIs.
I hope this helps.
Mahalo (Thanks).
Mark J. Matson
BV Solutions Group
A Black & Veatch Company
Patch Methodology - Paper on
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 14:08:23 -0400
From: mwilburn@csc.com
To: oraapps-l@cpa.qc.ca
Subject: Re: Patch Strategy Documentation
For those of you looking for some information on what others have done in
this
area, here is a web site with a methodology document.
http://members.home.net/arivenes/aolpatch.htm
Web enabled Oracle Application modules / versions
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 03:30:13 +0100
From: "SRS FreeZone" srs@freezone.co.uk
Subject: NCA, v11, WebApps...confused? I am!
Hi,
I have just finished implementing 10.7SC of PO/AP/OE/INV and have also
supported 10.7SC of HR/Payroll.
Then along comes 10.7NCA
Then v11 (which is also NCA)
There's WebApps
There's Self Service WebApps
Then there's v11i
I'm not sure which uses the internet and which doesn't. Can anyone
enlighten/correct me on the following?
[With our 10.7SC we had the client forms on the NT server, nothing to speak
of on the NT client, and the database on the unix box.]
NCA means you dont need to have a hard disk on your client. You use a web
browser like Explorer to access the application. But,
1) - are Oracle Forms 4.5 used? ie FMXs?
2) - If so, where are they stored? On the NT server like SC?
3) - So you just type in www.... in your browser and from then onwards you
get the standard FMX forms, just as though you were running SC?
4) - Are you really using the "Internet"? ie can you access the application
from anywhere in the world with just a web browser?
5) - Do you need to have "Oracle Application Server" or "Oracle Web
Application Server"?
6) Is v11 NCA-only? So its like an upgraded 10.7NCA then - ie enhanced
functionality (and reduced bugs!)?
These WebApps things. I know my client had got the Requisitions one working
on the database the 10.7SC app was running on but because they wanted a lot
of bespoking, they just built their own web
form (html, Java or whatever) instead, and used one of the above 2
"servers".
7) - Is WebApps the same as Self Service WebApps (SSWA)?
8) - Oracle's v11 Upgrade page says SSWA is new in v11.
9) - But why do these SSWA things exist if NCA is web-enabled anyway? I am
confused
here! Is it so you can use SSWA with a non-internet version (ie 10.7SC or
below)?
10) What's v11i? The new version of v11?
Please explain! You may use technical terms.
Thanks,
Steve Spencer.
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 06:39:54 -0700
From: McRaney Ronald-MCG32315 rmcraney@itexchsrv2.phx.mcd.mot.com
Subject: RE: NCA, v11, WebApps...confused? I am!
To conserve space, the questions posed by Steve are not repeated as was
intended by Ron - my apologies for the same. However the answers are in the
same order in which the questions were posed by Steve ------rchath
1) - Yes, for SC you will find 16-bit forms and for 10.7 NCA and 11 you will find
4.5 32-bit forms. The change will come with 11i where it jumps to Version
6.
2) - If you are using NT for the middle-tier the forms can be there along with
the Web Server that serves the forms to user. The database can be located
on separate server. All three can be located on same server. WinNT, Sun,
AIX, HP and so on, depends on your infrastructure and users and performance.
3) - Yes.
4) - Intranet more likely, depends on your firewall or security setup. Just
depends how you want to advertise the start page for Applications, more than
likely "intranet".
5) - They are the same, another name change. Oracle Application Server supported
presently with Apps is 3.0.1.1. You will need to license the Developer 2000
Application Server which is separate from the Dev 2000.
6) - Yes. No, character.
7) - Self Service Web Apps is a separate group modules, check the MetaLink for
specifics
8) - Yes, There were some backports on some.
9) - They Employee Travel and Expense part of SSWA can be used with 10.7SC, need
Workflow however.
10) - Version that will work with 8i, also forms move to Version 6 of Developer.
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 12:50:44 -0400
From: "Bartoletti, Mike" BartolMi@rf.suny.edu
Subject: RE: NCA, v11, WebApps...confused? I am!
My answers are placed in your original email and are based solely on the
knowledge I have massed while being in the middle of a Release 11.0.2
installation.
To conserve space, the questions posed by Steve are not repeated as was
intended by Michael - my apologies for the same. However the answers are in the
same order in which the questions were posed by Steve ------rchath
1) - The FMXs are stored on the server.
2) - On the NT server like SC?
3) - They are not "standard". In release 11 they are java applets rendered from
the fmx by the forms server, so each form is a floating window with a
floating menu bar.
4) - There seem to be some weird issues with firewalls, but yes, you can run them
from anywhere.
5) - Yes, that is the forms server I described above. You
really need a web server then a forms server then the database server.
6) - So its like an upgraded 10.7NCA then - ie enhanced
functionality (and reduced bugs!)? Yes, 11 is NCA only.
7) - I think so.
8) - Do not understand that.
9) - I think it is just functionality that is left as HTML pages and not
converted to java.
10) - 11i is really 11.5 and it uses the 8i database. It is written with forms 6
where 11.0.2 is written in forms 4.5. The interface is more like SC where
there is a MDI frame and all.
Michael Bartoletti
Applications Development
Research Foundation of SUNY
ph:(518)434-7204
fx:(518)434-7211
mailto:bartolmi@rfsuny.org
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 18:07:26 -0500
From: "Uptmore, Chris" uptmorec@kci1.com
Subject: RE: NCA, v11, WebApps...confused? I am!
Ron does a nice job below from what I understand about this.
I just wanted to add some things concerning Self-Sevice Web Apps (SSWA)
vs. Web Apps that lead to 2 questions:
SSWA refers to HTML-only/dynamic HTML "forms"/"single-transaction"
GUI screens, as opposed to Forms45-based GUI forms/screens.
This dynamic HTML is produced by database-resident PL/SQL "procedures" with
embedded JAVA-script/HTML (did I say that right? point is, no Forms45).
I like to think of "Web Apps" as referring to "Web Forms" - the JAVA-based
32-bit Forms45 NCA/GUI Forms (as opposed to the non-JAVA 16-bit Forms45
forms used by the "non-browser/internet" SmartClient implementation of GUI.
For SC, there was no browser, no Webserver, no internet.
For NCA, there is a browser, Webserver, Forms Server and internet/intranet.
SSWA needs a Webserver but not a Forms Server.
So to me, if you are 10.7 NCA or 11, you've got the Webserver/internet
components,
which means you've got the SSWA infrastructure.
For 10.7 SC, you still need the internet components for SSWA, but not the
Forms
Server until you want 10.7 NCA or 11.
As far as 3 tiers, I think of it as always needing an RDBMS Server tier
(back end),
and a Web Browser (front-end "server" client - Netscape, IE or Oracle's
proprietary
"AppletViewer").
The middle tier is for the Webserver, and (for 10.7 NCA or 11) the Forms
Server,
and they can both reside on the same "back end" RDBMS Server.
For just SSWA with 10.7 Char or SC, I believe a 2-tier architecture will
suffice,
(i.e., Browser, and RDBMS Server that also has the Webserver).
For NCA with or without SSWA, I would think the 3-tier architecture makes
more sense,
where the middle tier is a separate UNIX Server to handle the 4.5 Forms and
Webserver.
Given that UNIX is the RDBMS Server, and since performance is always a
concern,
I would stick with UNIX in the middle.
Although I have never seen an apples-to-apples performance/up-time
comparison
substituting NT for UNIX in the middle tier, I have a feeling UNIX would win
by a large
margin, based upon what I have heard.
I am curious about 2 things. Has anyone had the luxury of time and
resources to actually:
1. do a "3-tier comparison" using UNIX vs. NT as the middle tier, all
other things equal?
2. shift from a 2-tier to a 3-tier with all other things equal adding
UNIX vs. NT in the middle?
Thanks,
Chris