In a previous blog entry ( OpenSource Databases. Why did we choose for our project Mysql?), talked about the Open Source databases such as interesting and reliable option for the development of business intelligence projects. We saw some different products and compare between them.
But there are other alternatives (with limitations in most cases) that allow us to start working with "big" of a free. Express versions are called. Versions are designed for small systems, for development work or training, for prototyping or evaluation, that allow us to "initiation" with the great managers of relational databases. In most cases, the product is offered fully functional, but with limitations (the maximum size of the database, use Ram memory or processors of the machine, etc). There may also be features that are not active in these versions (such as partitioning version of Oracle Express). I leave the link to the manufacturers' web sites where you can download these versions:
- Oracle: Oracle has clearly staked its Open Source projects, as you can see on the web (project Eclipse, PHP, Python, etc). A RDBMS level, offers the Oracle Database 10g Express Edition, on Windows and Linux platforms. It may be freely distributed and has the following limitations: only 1 per server instance Bd, the maximum size of 4 GB, maximum use of 1GB of RAM and 1 processor (although we have several). Includes management tools. More information here.
- Microsoft SQL Server: SQL Server 2008 Express, has a limit of 16 instances, with up to 4 GB in size, using 1 GB of RAM and 1 processor. Available under Windows only, may be freely distributed as well. As an option for the BI world, one of the Express versions include Reporting Services. More information about the blog version Sqlserversi.com
- IBM DB2: IBM also offers its better-known version of DB2 Express. We offer the DB2 Express-C in Linux and Windows platforms (32 and 64 bit), Solaris and Mac, with the only limitation of using 2 GB of RAM and 2 Processors. You can find out more here. It can also be freely distributed. It seems that IBM is strongly committed to this version of "entry". We even offer a free electronic book and a collection of training videos.
- Sybase:Sybase Express version is available for Linux (called Adaptive Server Enterprise Linux x86 Express Edition).We can work with a single instance database, using up to 2 GB of RAM and 5 GB in size of the database. She was released to the Linux world back in 1999, so it was one of the pioneers in these releases.
- IBM Informix: although a product like IBM DB2, follow a different strategy. We offer the product Informix Dynamic Server Developer Edition,a free evaluation period expires, but only for development purposes, and available in the following systems: AIX, HP, Linux, Mac, Solaris and Windows. The Express version itself is the next in the scale and it is a paid version (intended as a product for Small and Medium Enterprises). The limits are 1 GB of Ram and a processor, and a maximum size of the database 8 GB You can see the comparison of each of the versions here.
- Adabas: the database is less generous Express. In his Personal Edition Adabas 13, we offer 3-user, limited to a database of 100Mb and 1 CPU.
In all cases, if you want to move to full versions, upgrades are available for payment. Before choosing one, you can take a look at their characteristics in the full entry of wikipedia. That said, an interesting option for forms, to validate products or ride development and prototyping platforms. And checkout.
