Hi Louie Intersystems have done some benchmarks of multidimensional databases versus RDBMS and some of that logic follows through to UniVerse.
It is difficult to compare UniVerse to RDBMS in benchmarks as they are designed for RDBMS strengths. If a benchmark was designed for UniVerse strengths instead, RDBMS would not look so rosy. RDBMS databases are designed to optimise cache and indexing because of the performance issues in the database. UniVerse does not inherit those performance issues, hence they do not need to optimise Cache and indexs to the same extent and the optimisations needs to be different. There are hosts of differences. RDBMS have fixed length and fixed structure records, where as UniVerse has variable length records and fields can be added at any time. More UniVerse records can fit on a disk sector than RDBMS rows increasing U2 performance. RDBMS don't efficiently lock rows, they do group locks. Universe can lock individual records without performance hits. RDBMS work with optimistic locking as pessimistic locking is a nightmare with group locking. UniVerse can handle both optimistic and pessimistic locking. RDBMS stores all tables within one file, UniVerse has a file for every table. Totally different approaches for BU, Restore and handling file corruptions. RDBMS have to join multiple tables which creates overhead and referential integrity issues. UniVerse stores all specific data in a multidimensional record. UniVerse is close to Zero-Administration, where RDBMS still require expensive Database administrators. RDBMS have large workloads in setting up security access to tables for different users. UniVerse can use table security or OS file security. RDBMS have limited functionality in business rules stored in the database. UniVerse can handle complex business rules with ease. In complex applications UniVerse is well ahead. However the argument should not be technical. The CEO and board does not make decisions on Cache and indexes, they make it on a business case. ROI, Cost of running, Staff numbers to administer and develop, competitive advantage. The old joke was what hardware does Oracle run best on, a projector. Oracle markets to CEOs and does little technology discussion, that is why they are successful. Its horses for courses, but if a project is going to be complex, the success rate of the project completing on time and on cost in UniVerse is near 100%, on an RDBMS the numbers are scary. Regards David Jordan Managing Consultant ------- u2-users mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
