SQL Server and IBM Db2 are prominent competitors in the database management systems category. SQL Server tends to hold an advantage in features and deployment versatility, while IBM Db2 excels in platform compatibility and security integration.
Features: SQL Server offers dynamic resource allocation, a robust OLAP service, and a user-friendly management suite, enhanced by In-Memory OLTP for increased performance. IBM Db2 boasts a self-tuning memory management feature, a rich SQL dialect, and strong integration with other IBM products, providing a stable and secure platform.
Room for Improvement: SQL Server faces challenges with platform compatibility, rising costs for advanced features, and issues with Management Studio's UI and data encryption. Users seek better integration with non-Windows systems and a simpler setup process. IBM Db2 could improve by simplifying its licensing model and user interface, addressing the absence of a full graph database, and easing the complexity of setup and management tools.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SQL Server's versatile deployment across private, hybrid, and multiple cloud options makes it adaptable, although customer service response times can be slow. IBM Db2 supports primarily on-premises and private cloud deployments, known for high-quality support despite its complexity extending deployment times.
Pricing and ROI: SQL Server is cost-effective for smaller setups with a competitive pricing edge and a free Developer edition, although enterprise features may increase expenses. It generally provides a positive ROI due to its integration with Microsoft's ecosystem. IBM Db2 is typically more expensive than SQL Server but cheaper than Oracle, with users noting high licensing costs while still finding good value in its robust capabilities and steadiness for critical applications.
All applications need our repository to provide services for our online business or our customers, so the return is good.
We normally receive substantial discounts on the price.
When we created support tickets, the experience was very positive.
The server where we installed it has grown from 64 gigabytes in RAM to 256 gigabytes, demonstrating significant scalability capabilities.
It might be slightly slower than other database vendors, but it works well since banks typically do not move quickly with leading-edge technology.
I would appreciate using Microsoft Pro as it can integrate with Excel or, with a simple query, consume information from the database using Microsoft Excel.
When we consider the price for replication in another site, the pricing becomes prohibitive.
IBM Db2 Database, because of enterprise performance and support, is why banks still maintain their relationship with it.
The IBM Db2 Database is trusted, and IT effort is less than any other product.
I have been working with SQL Server for a long time, and it works well for me as I am using it in different applications, such as web applications, Windows applications, or the data warehouse reporting.
For disaster recovery features supporting mission-critical applications in our organization, we have implemented the high availability feature of SQL Server.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| SQL Server | 15.8% |
| IBM Db2 Database | 7.5% |
| Other | 76.7% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 20 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 13 |
| Large Enterprise | 48 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 121 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 58 |
| Large Enterprise | 112 |
SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) by Microsoft. The product's main purposes are to store data and retrieve it as requested by other software applications - on the same computer or on another computer across a shared network. The solution is built on top of Structured Query Language (SQL), which is a standardized programming language used for relational database management.
The product is tied to Transact-SQL (T-SQL), which is an implementation of SQL from Microsoft that adds several proprietary programming extensions to the standard language. SQL Server is built similarly to other RDBMS products, as its structure is a row-based table that connects related data elements in different tables to one another. One of its most important components is the SQL Server Database Engine, as it controls data processing, storage, and security. Beneath the Database Engine is the SQL Server Operating System, which is used for memory and I/O management, locking data to avoid unneeded upgrades, and job scheduling.
The solution has four editions with different sets of services and tools. They include:
The first two are available for free and are typically utilized by smaller companies, as they work with fewer functions and storage. The second two editions are generally used by bigger organizations and enterprises and offer more features.
The solution has several functions through which users can facilitate different data-related processes. These include:
SQL Server Services
SQL Server has a wide range of add-on services that provide additional benefits beyond database management. These services include:
SQL Server Benefits
The solution has many benefits for users. These include the following:
Reviews from Real Users
A president at a consultancy evaluates SQL Server as a veteran solution with critical log shipping feature.
Harkamal S., a user at a manufacturing company, rates SQL Server with a high mark because it is a stable, scalable, and easy-to-deploy solution that pretty much covers everything.
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