Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS vs Quest Spotlight comparison

BMC and Quest Software are both solutions in the Database Development and Management category. BMC is ranked #20 with an average rating of 8.0, while Quest Software is ranked #5 with an average rating of 9.0. BMC holds a 0.5% mindshare in DDM, compared to Quest Software’s 6.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of BMC users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Quest Software users who would recommend it.
BMC Data Management for IMS...
Read 2 BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS reviews
  • 58 Views
  • 47 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
Quest Spotlight
Read 5 Quest Spotlight reviews
  • 1,227 Views
  • 752 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report
Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS and Quest Spotlight are database management and performance monitoring products. BMC Data Management excels in pricing and support, whereas Quest Spotlight has superior features.

Features: BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS provides data integrity, recovery, and optimization tools crucial for mainframe environments. It focuses on data stability and recovery efficiencies. Quest Spotlight offers advanced monitoring capabilities, real-time performance insights, and intuitive problem-solving interfaces, emphasizing comprehensive performance visibility.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS offers straightforward deployment with reliable customer service for enterprise-level setups and extensive documentation. Quest Spotlight provides streamlined deployment and proactive support focusing on small to medium-sized environments with guided tutorials.

Pricing and ROI: BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS is known for competitive setup costs and favorable ROI due to targeted efficiencies in mainframe management. Quest Spotlight is considered premium but justifies costs through its comprehensive features and quick returns from enhanced performance monitoring.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
To learn more, read our detailed BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS vs. Quest Spotlight Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS vs. Quest Spotlight
June 2025
Download the complete report
Helped 857,028 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

BMC Data Management for IMS...
Ranking in Database Development and Management
20th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Quest Spotlight
Ranking in Database Development and Management
5th
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
5
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Database Development and Management category, the mindshare of BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS is 0.5%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Quest Spotlight is 6.8%, down from 8.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Database Development and Management
 

Featured Reviews

RS
Improves disaster recovery processes and offers an efficient CPU cycle optimization
Using BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on z/OS has greatly improved our database administration tasks. Although we don't test the database before production, we have experienced benefits in disaster recovery situations and capacity management. For instance, when facing capacity issues during peak transaction times, I've been able to quickly allocate additional resources to ensure smooth operations. This has been crucial, especially during times when the demand surges, such as peak flight hours.
Read full review
Seha R - PeerSpot reviewer
Good tool for the design and development of public APIs
The software does not support webhooks. It doesn't support advanced versions of APIs. The tool also doesn't support advanced versions of specifications. The change that we do in one part of the model is not reflected throughout the specification. There are also some mutations in the clones. I am not able to do a local source control with the product as well.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"BMC Data Management improved our data recovery process by simplifying it."
"I have worked with DB2's great features in the last five years. The IDAA feature transformed the vision of warehousing, business analytics, and big data at my bank. Besides the mainframe, I saw that this solution was evolutionary. It gives real-time information."
"The tool is a SaaS product where I just need to type a URL and start with the design process. I can integrate all elements of source control like GitHub, GitLab, etc. The tool also supports authentication-related provisions like SSH."
"Spotlight provides valuable features such as the ability to get alerted and drill down to a very granular level to find out where actual problems are coming from."
"Spotlight provides valuable features such as the ability to get alerted and drill down to a very granular level to find out where actual problems are coming from."
"Its dashboards are most valuable. The drill-down of the dashboards is useful."
"I consider the solution very scalable."
 

Cons

"One area for improvement with this product could be in providing clearer guidance and tools for disaster recovery planning and execution."
"DB2 is a hard tool to grasp. It's hard for users to learn how to use it. It's not easy to see how it works."
"One improvement could be the inclusion of suggestions for missing indexes or better analysis of how indexes are utilized and how execution plans are used, similar to what other products offer."
"There's no reporting with this tool, and there really should be. They should add that into future releases."
"One improvement could be the inclusion of suggestions for missing indexes or better analysis of how indexes are utilized and how execution plans are used, similar to what other products offer."
"Some customizations of the dashboard, such as having backup reports, would be useful."
"The software does not support webhooks. It doesn't support advanced versions of APIs. The tool also doesn't support advanced versions of specifications. The change that we do in one part of the model is not reflected throughout the specification. There are also some mutations in the clones. I am not able to do a local source control with the product as well."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The tool is cloud-based. It is priced well."
"Its cost was somewhere in the middle."
report
See which vendors are best for you
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Database Development and Management solutions are best for your needs.
See recommendations
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
36%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Insurance Company
9%
Logistics Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Computer Software Company
10%
Healthcare Company
10%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS?
BMC Data Management improved our data recovery process by simplifying it.
See all answers
What needs improvement with BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS?
One area for improvement with this product could be in providing clearer guidance and tools for disaster recovery planning and execution. As someone involved in managing infrastructure, understandi...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS?
From my perspective as an infrastructure guy, the most valuable aspect of BMC's data management solutions was their ability to optimize CPU cycles, improving IMS performance without directly impact...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Quest Spotlight?
One improvement could be the inclusion of suggestions for missing indexes or better analysis of how indexes are utilized and how execution plans are used, similar to what other products offer.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Quest Spotlight?
I primarily use Spotlight for on-the-spot troubleshooting and alerting to see if there are any issues. The drill-down features allow me to pinpoint problems, whether they are indexing, long-running...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering Quest Spotlight?
I would rate Spotlight probably an nine out of ten. My advice would be to consider its cost-effectiveness and ease of use in smaller environments.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

No data available
Quest Foglight for Databases vs Quest Spotlight Logo
Quest Foglight for Databases vs Quest Spotlight
Compared 42% of the time
SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer vs Quest Spotlight Logo
SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer vs Quest Spotlight
Compared 20% of the time
Redgate SQL Toolbelt Essentials vs Quest Spotlight Logo
Redgate SQL Toolbelt Essentials vs Quest Spotlight
Compared 9% of the time
Oracle Enterprise Manager vs Quest Spotlight Logo
Oracle Enterprise Manager vs Quest Spotlight
Compared 8% of the time
SQL Sentry vs Quest Spotlight Logo
SQL Sentry vs Quest Spotlight
Compared 8% of the time
More Quest Spotlight Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Database Development and Management
May 2025
BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS reportDownload BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS product report
Buyer's Guide
Database Development and Management
May 2025
Quest Spotlight reportDownload Quest Spotlight product report
 

Also Known As

BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on z/OS, Data Management for IMS and DB2 on z/OS
Dell Spotlight
 

Overview

Transform the management of your DB2 databases to meet the scale and complexity of digital business

  • Run DB2 utilities with BMC Next Generation Technology to optimize your data and improve application performance
  • Eliminate downtime and increase availability of business services
  • Ensure the integrity of structured and unstructured data
  • Take control with intelligent automation and policy-driven rules
  • Bridge the gap from green-screen to modern, secure, self-service user interfaces
  • Move to DB2 12 and beyond with confidence
BMC
Quest Spotlight ensures peak performance around the clock with unmatched monitoring, diagnosis and optimization of SQL Server environments. Spotlight provides access to the details you need for optimal fitness of your SQL Server databases. Get overviews of health and performance, automated alerts and actions, and mobile device support.
Quest Software
 

Sample Customers

Airline Tariff Publishing Co (ATPCO), AtTask, MetaScale
Jenkon
Buyer's Guide
BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS vs. Quest Spotlight
June 2025
Free Report: BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS vs. Quest Spotlight
Find out what your peers are saying about BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS vs. Quest Spotlight and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
DOWNLOAD NOW
857,028 professionals have used our research since 2012.
See our BMC Data Management for IMS and DB2 on zOS vs. Quest Spotlight report.
See our list of best Database Development and Management vendors.

We monitor all Database Development and Management reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.