Post on 11-Jan-2016
Informix IDS vs Oracle:A Competitive Comparison
Goal of the Presentation
• Present Architectural Differences between Informix and Oracle
• Show Informix’s superiority in:– OLTP– Data Warehousing / Decision Support– Content Management and Web Applications
• Show clear business benefits of technology differences– Performance & scalability– Extensibility– Lower cost of ownership
Topics
• Architecture
• OLTP
• Data Warehousing
• Complex Data / Content Management
• Summary
At the Core: Informix Dynamic Scalable Architecture
• Consistent code line across OWS, ODS, XPS, and IUS
• Advanced functionality integrated at the core
• Connectivity across the enterprise
• Integrated Sytems Management and Replication
SMP
Massively
Parallel
Cluster
Workgroups
Workgroups/SMP
Cluster
Extended Extended ParallelParallelServerServer
Dynamic Dynamic ServerServer
Workgroup Server/Workgroup Server/WorkstationWorkstation
Desktops
MPP
UniversalUniversalServerServer
Informix Server Architecture• Full parallel processing• Efficient internal multithreading• Open API for user defined
functions and datatypes• Configurable pool of virtual
processors• No context switching overhead• Dynamic system administration• Dynamic load balancing• DB level prioritization,
scheduling & locking• Database migration
...
VirtualProcessors ...
CPU CPU CPU CPU...
DB Buffer Cache Shared Data
Shared Memory
Industry View of Informix Architecture
• Informix RDBMS was completely rearchitected in 1991 for parallel processing and extensibility
• Informix DSA sets the industry standard for simplicity, elegance and flexibility
“ The general industry consensus among users and developers is that Informix has the best architecture.” Patricia Seybold Group, 12/96
CPU
IDLE
CPU
IDLE
CPU
SQL
TaskTask
QueryQueryApplication
Database Server
Oracle DBMS
Advantages of DSA’s Parallelism
Informix OnLine DSA
CPU CPU CPU
TaskTask
SubtaskSubtask SubtaskSubtaskSubtaskSubtask
SQL
QueryQueryApplication
Database Server
30% CPU usage Near 100% CPU usage!
Industry View of Oracle Architecture
• Oracle’s database architecture was designed and written in the early 1980s
• It is widely believed that Oracle needs to rewrite its DBMS engine
“Oracle has never really provided the most elegant database technology …”
Hambrecht & Quist 2/97
“Oracle will need to perform a significant redesign of its DBMS engine...”
Gartner Group, 3/96
Oracle’s Architectural Approach
• Informix has one architecture: DSA• In constrast, Oracle has:
– Multiple incompatible servers – User written integration code– Incomplete parallel processing– High OS overhead
OraclePersonalLite
NetworkComputingArchitecture
Oracle 7IRIRdb
Oracle 8
VideoServer
OracleParalleServer
ReplicationEngine
Oracle 6
– No API for Database Exensibility
– Unclear object strategy and distributed computing vision
Architectural Comparison: Performance/Scalability
• Informix– Consistent high performance across all
platforms and applications– Best return on hardware and application
investment• Oracle
– Performance dependent on servers and configuration
– ROI dependent on OS, platform and application
Architectural Comparison: Extensibility
• Informix– Adaptable API for business specific data and
processing– Multiple integrated datatypes from leading vendors – Easily adjusts to new business requirements
• Oracle– No user-defined datatypes or functions– Only useful for Numeric, Alpha, Date Order– New business requirements may require extensive
coding or rewrite
Architectural Comparison: Cost of Ownership
• Informix– Single, integrated server from desktop to data warehouse– Lower cost of maintenance and training – Architectural simplicity means faster deployment; better ROI
• Oracle– Multiple non-integrated servers
• Personal Oracle, Oracle 7.x/8.x, Oracle Express, etc... – Requires more maintenance; higher level of training– Complexity slows deployment, lessens ROI
Customer Testimonials: Cost of Ownership
• Wells Fargo converted from Oracle databases to Informix.– Working with both vendors showed “…it takes about
60% longer to deploy a project on Oracle than on Informix.”
• Total Cost of Ownership wins over Oracle– Bank of America– GTE
Topics
Architecture– The Dynamic Scalable Architecture provides
better performance and lower cost of ownership than Oracle’s many faceted solution.
• OLTP
• Data Warehousing
• Complex Data / Content Management
OLTP Success Factors• Performance
– Transaction rates, scalability, multi-user access to data• Administration and Maintenance
– Low labor costs, compatibility with enterprise• Replication
– Availability of data, ease of recovery• Extensibility
– Planning for the future of OLTP• Cost of Ownership
– How all factors impact the bottom line
OLTP Application Comparison
• BAAN Triton 3.1 Client/Server Benchmark– Informix 1,510 users: ~2X better than Oracle on
identical hardware– Informix developers and support engineers on-site at
BAAN• SAP R/3 Benchmark
– New world record on Windows NT: 1,116 users– Only Informix has joint development lab at SAP
headquarters in Germany.
Informix is significantly faster than Oracle in real-world OLTP applications.
Industry View of Oracle OLTP Support
• Oracle has ‘bolted on’ features rather than rewriting and integrating
• Many of Oracle’s ‘benchmark special’ OLTP features are largely unusable
“[Oracle] consumes more OS resources, has a relatively weak query optimizer and was later to the game than Informix in parallelization.”
Hambrecht & Quist, 2/97
Components of OLTP Performance
• Cost-based optimizer– efficient queries, best utilization of hardware
• Parallel Insert, Update, Delete (DML)– high transaction rates, good multi-user access
• Integrated log-based replication– reliability, recovery, ease of administration
Informix vs. Oracle: Optimizer
• Informix– Cost based, automatically chooses optimum query strategy
• Oracle inferior in these areas:– Limited support for parallel processing – Incompatible with standard SQL
• Requires user to define non-standard ‘hints’ based on table characteristics
– Inefficient• Optimizer can not be used by standard tools and applications due
to need for ‘hints’• Most users turn it off
Informix vs. Oracle: Parallel DML
• Informix -- best in industry– Optimal use of hardware for scalability and performance
• Oracle inferior in these areas:– Data Integrity
• No serializability => no recoverability• No multi-statement transactions• No referential integrity
– Advanced Database functionality• No support for triggers, replication, variable arrays, nested tables,
large objects– Multi-user concurrency
• Row level locking must be turned off • Parallel insert locks entire table
Informix vs. Oracle: Replication
• Informix– Log based. Fast and reliable– Open. Replicates to other vendors’ databases– Simple to implement and maintain
• Oracle– Trigger based. Management nightmare.– Closed.
• Can only replicate Oracle data.– High Maintenance overhead.
• requires a separate server• incompatible with objects, partitions, parallel DML• triggers
Informix Advantages:
3x the I/O, half the # of steps, 5-10x
faster!
This means:
Higher Availability of Data
Less chance for data loss
Easier recovery
Ten steps involved inTen steps involved in Oracle Oracle trigger-based replication:trigger-based replication:Step 1: Transaction updates tablesStep 1: Transaction updates tablesStep 2: Oracle will log these updates using regular Step 2: Oracle will log these updates using regular logging mechanism logging mechanism Step 3: Replication triggers are fired (one per table Step 3: Replication triggers are fired (one per table involved) = additional CPU processinginvolved) = additional CPU processingStep 4: Replication triggers call procedures to update Step 4: Replication triggers call procedures to update change queue (additional inserts occur to change change queue (additional inserts occur to change queue tables) = additional I/O processingqueue tables) = additional I/O processingStep 5: Oracle will log these inserts using regular Step 5: Oracle will log these inserts using regular logging mechanism = additional I/O processinglogging mechanism = additional I/O processingStep 6: Changes get sent via SQL*Net protocol to Step 6: Changes get sent via SQL*Net protocol to target DBMS = significant overheadtarget DBMS = significant overheadStep 7: Target DBMS updates tablesStep 7: Target DBMS updates tablesStep 8: Oracle will log these changes using regular Step 8: Oracle will log these changes using regular logging logging mechanism = additional I/O processingmechanism = additional I/O processingStep 9: Deletes from change queue tables additional Step 9: Deletes from change queue tables additional I/II/IStep 10: Oracle will log these deletes using regular Step 10: Oracle will log these deletes using regular logging mechanism = additional I/O processinglogging mechanism = additional I/O processing
Five steps involved in Informix Five steps involved in Informix log-based replication:log-based replication:Step 1: Transaction updates tablesStep 1: Transaction updates tablesStep 2: DSA will log these updates using regular (parallel) Step 2: DSA will log these updates using regular (parallel) logging mechanismlogging mechanismStep 3: Replication threads read from in-memory log buffersStep 3: Replication threads read from in-memory log buffersStep 4: Apply threads will fan-out the messages to remote Step 4: Apply threads will fan-out the messages to remote servers in parallel using optimizedservers in parallel using optimized protocolprotocolStep 5: Remote servers (targets) will apply transactions in Step 5: Remote servers (targets) will apply transactions in parallelparallel
Replication in Practice
Informix vs. Oracle: Administration
• Informix -- complete and flexible
– Informix Enterprise Command Center
• Automated, Scalable, Open (Java, IIOP, SNMP)
– Enterprise Framework Integration
• HP OpenView, CA UniCenter, DEC PolyCenter, IBM NetView/6000, Sun Solstice
– Integration with Tools Partners
• BMC, Platinum, Tivoli, Compuware
• Oracle -- provides an “Oracle only” solution
– Enterpise Manager
• Closed, Proprietary Architecture
The Next OLTP Advantage: Extensibility
• Infrastructure Integration– Move complex business from applications to central control of the
database server– Add management of today’s “unmanaged data”
• documents, e-mail, images• Meet highly specialized needs
– user defined functions on server– pre-witten data types (DataBlades) on server
• time series, text management, spatial queries– high performance indexes for complex relationships, hiearchies,
business rules
Informix vs. Oracle: Extensibility
• Informix– A single, Universal Server -- available today.– Full database support for user defined datatypes, abstract
datatypes, user defined functions– Faster response to changing business requirements; re-
usable code; flexible systems• Oracle
– Not currently available in server– Conflicting extensibility messages– Promised in Oracle8 since 1993– Now promised in Oracle middleware (NCA) in 1998
Informix Result
Better performance &scalability
Lower hardware costsFewer upgrades
Fully implementedfeatures
Less user codeFaster deploymentEasier maintenance
Extensibility Keep pace with changingrequirements
Extends lifespan ofapplications
Cost of Ownership: Informix Advantages
Topics
Architecture OLTP
– Informix has decisive advantages for OLTP in the critical areas of Performance, Administration, Replication, and Extensibility.
• Data Warehousing
• Complex Data / Content Management
Data Warehousing Success Factors
• Hardware Investment– Hardware cost for 500 GB Data Warehouse:
• $3.5 million on SMP systems• $7 million on MPP systems
• Performance / Processing Time– Judged in hours and days, not seconds
• Ease of Use and Total Cost of Ownership– Obtain the right answer, easily customize– Avoid specialized training and tasks– Minimize hardware investment
Industry View of Oracle DW Performance
• Oracle parallel processing was introduced as a late response to Informix
• Its capabilities are limited and incompatible with other performance oriented features
“[Oracle] is notoriously poor at scaling above 2 to 4 nodes.....”
Meta Group
Result: Informix Wins in Head-to-Result: Informix Wins in Head-to-Head ContestsHead Contests
Result: Informix Wins in Head-to-Result: Informix Wins in Head-to-Head ContestsHead Contests
“Informix has beaten both Oracle and IBM for some very high visibility terabyte accounts - namely MCI, Visa International, Sears, and Fidelity Investments”
Patricia Seybold Group 2/97
MCI Telecom 6 TB
Sears Retail 5 TB
HCIA Healthcare 3 TB
First Union Financial 2-3 TB
Fleet Bank Financial 1-2 TB
Fidelity Investment Financial 800 GB
• Informix vs. Oracle TPC-D: 70% faster on 25% less hardware– Informix: 48 CPU’s, Oracle: 64 CPU’s
• Informix means lowest overall hardware investment• Best price / performance• Less HW = lower admin overhead , lower labor costs
3.416
1.6732.009
1.241 1.360916
1.501
1.028
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
Informix (HP) Oracle (Sun) Oracle (IBM) Teradata (NCR)
TPC-D Performance(Scale Factor 300 GB)
TPC-D Power (QppD)
TPC-D Throughput (QthD)
• Data Warehousing encompasses all functions, not just queries • Informix completed entire benchmark before Oracle completed
loading• Informix has complete parallel architecture: load, index, query,
backup/restore, management, etc.
Informix(HP)
Oracle(Sun)
Oracle(IBM)
Teradata(NCR)
7:47
3:0715:09
4:07
13:39
5:34
14:36
14:53
0:00
6:00
12:0
18:0
0:00
6:00h
h:m
m
Informix(HP)
Oracle(Sun)
Oracle(IBM)
Teradata(NCR)
TPC-D Total Running Time(Scale Factor 300 GB)
Query Time
Load Time
Performance: Informix Extended Parallel Server (XPS)
• Highly efficient shared nothing architecture – Each node controls its own log and data
• Flexible data partitioning• Function shipping eliminates need for distributed lock
manager
11
Node 1 Node 2 Node N
High Speed Interconnect
Informix most efficient!Update requires :1 message; no I/O
Performance: Oracle Parallel Server (OPS)
• Oracle simulates shared disk– inflexible partitioning scheme
• Requires huge overhead: distributed lock manager, many extra messages and I/Os
same task, Oracle
requires:12 Messages
2 I/Os
Node 1
11 22
6677
Node 2 Node N
Oracle Virtual Shared DiskOracle Virtual Shared Disk
3388 125
410
9
1111
DLM
Performance: Review of Key Informix Features
• Shared nothing architecture– Easily locates all data; avoids locking conflicts
• Data partitioning– Spreads data across multiple disks and nodes for
highest performance– Six different table/index partitioning options
• Advanced parallel processing– Best use of hardware Application transparent
parallel everything: query, sort, scan, join, aggregates, update, delete, insert, ...
– Pipelined parallelism; superior hash-based join
Ease of use: Informix Metacube vs. Oracle Express
• Informix MetaCube: ROLAP Decision Support– Integrated tool for browsing and query of the database– Analyzes standard Informix RDBMS data
• no separate server to administer• no translation code, no extra overhead
• Oracle’s DW Solution requires Oracle Express– Oracle Express is a separate database server
• does not use RDMBS, but a multi-dimensional DB– Must load data into Express from main Oracle DB
• user must write “pass through” code• updating of data requires a re-load
Performance: Oracle Data Partitioning
• Incomplete– Supports only simple range partitioning– No round-robin, hashing, random, direct, expression, schema , ...– No migration tools from Oracle 7.3
• Incompatible– Partitioned tables may not contain objects, triggers, constraints, data
clustering, index clustering• Inefficient
– Range partitioning data skew causes poor performance– Performance degraded due to inability to use existing features
Informix Customer Story: MCI
• Oracle beaten in head to head competition– Oracle could not successfully complete the benchmark
• Informix demonstrated DW expertise– Awarded 1996 Best Practices award by the Data
Warehousing Institute.– Project established industry’s TPC-D benchmark.
MCI Data Warehouse facts at a glance:• 6 TB of Data• Friends and Family lead generation program• 3500 data points on each of 190 million people
MCI Data Warehouse Benefits• Informix DW enables better use of
essential business data.
– Long Distance Providers face
– 50% annual customer turnover
– Better analysis of leads is a strategic advantage
– Reduction in lead generation cost:
• 1994: $0.90 / lead
• 1996: $0.07 / lead
$0,00
$0,10
$0,20
$0,30
$0,40
$0,50
$0,60
$0,70
1994 1996
$/Lead
Informix outperformed next competitor by 2XInformix outperformed next competitor by 2X
– initial hardware savings of $2-3 millioninitial hardware savings of $2-3 million
– more savings over time: HW will = 4X software costmore savings over time: HW will = 4X software cost
The Next Data Warehousing Advantage: Extensibility
• New types of queries– add spatial analysis– add unique business rules, unique data types
• Better information– Compute the lowest fare route between New York and
Baton Rouge and plot alternative route on a map• Faster response for complex queries
– Find all high tech stocks that have a risk/reward ratio lower than current portfolio
Informix vs. Oracle: DW Extensibility
• Informix– Numerous complex and new media datatypes – Database integration => better performance, easier
administration and lower maintenance– Data Warehouse becomes central information
repository• Oracle
– Partial database integration of text, image and spatial data
– Others promised as separate servers or middleware in Oracle 8
– Much higher overhead, harder to manage
Better performance& scalability
Faster answersLess hardware requiredEnables applications not
possible with O racleDramatically fasterload times
M ore frequent updatesM ore reliable resultsFaster RO I on Warehouse
investmentExtensibility builtinto server
Faster deploymentEasier maintenanceExtends lifespan of
applications
Data Warehouse Cost of Ownership:
Informix Advantage Result
Topics
Architecture OLTP Data Warehouse
– Informix has consistently demonstrated superiority to Oracle in Data Warehousing by delivering on customers’ systems and drastically cutting their costs.
• Complex Data / Content Management
Content Management Critical Success Factors
• Integration – Connectivity to: web servers, browsers, java applets, legacy data
• Management, Performance, Cost of Ownership– single server for all data– unified and industry endorsed architecture– scalable architecture
• Advanced data types– audio, video, text, spatial, java, VRML, etc…– user written and pre-defined (DataBlades)
Informix: Integrated, Simple, Complete.
Simple interface means fast development Optimized access means fast applications Single data source means easy administration No need for file, scripts, or programs outside the
DB.
DocumentsHTMLImagesVideoTime SeriesCorporate Data. . .
SingleInterface
Integrated Data Types (DataBlades):
OptimizedAccess
Single Universal Server
WebServer
Development ToolsDevelopment Tools Jworks, Web DataBlade, NewEra, Data Director, Partners...
INFORMIX-Universal
Web Connect™
INFORMIX-Universal Server
Java/IIOP
• JavaJava• C/C++C/C++
•New Era 4GLNew Era 4GL•IIOP/CORBAIIOP/CORBA
•DCOMDCOM•Publish andPublish and•SubscribeSubscribe
Management ToolsManagement ToolsInformix Enterprise Command Center, Tools Partners...
ActiveX
• Web SiteWeb SiteContentContent
• ApplicationApplicationLogicLogic
• JavaJava
Browser
Informix Connects the Entire Informix Connects the Entire Enterprise to the WebEnterprise to the Web
Gateways
LegacyData
Industry View of Informix Content Management
• Analysts agree that Informix’s server integration is the most efficient architecture
• Informix has numerous off-the-shelf DataBlade modules currently available
“For serious new media projects, Informix offers the most content-inclusive strategy.”
Forrester Research, 9/97
Oracle’s NCA -- Not a Unified Architecture
• Non-integrated servers• No extensibility• No new indexing• No cartridges
• No standard DML• Not parallel• No optimizer• No data integration
• CORBA Client User code
Application Server
Massive DataMovement
Client
CORBA Objects
CommunicationsOverhead
StandardRelational
OLAP Engine
Video Server
Third Party ORB3rd party ORB
Performance Problems of Oracle’s NCA
Local Lightweight
Thread
CORBAObject
1x 10x 100x 1,000x 10,000x
Informix
Oracle
Call Overhead
relative time
Oracle’s NCA is 1000X slower than Informix’s Universal Server in performing a function on an advanced data type.
Performance Problems of Oracle’s Performance Problems of Oracle’s NCANCA
CORBAObject
1x 10x 100x 1,000x 10,000x
Informix
Oracle local object
Data Movement OverheadLocal
LightweightThread
relative time
Oracle remote object
Oracle’s NCA is 100 to1000X slower than Informix’s Universal Server at transferring complex data types (objects) from the server.
Cost of Ownership: Oracle ‘Do-it-Yourself’ Approach
RelationalData
BLOBs
SpatialPoints
Text
Oracle Code‘Do-it-Yourself’ Custom Code
ObjectSimulator
ComplexGeometry
EngineOptimizer
DataIntegrator
Oracle Application Oracle Application ServerServer
Oracle Application Oracle Application ServerServer
Cost of Ownership: Oracle NCA Integrity Issues
• Cartridges outside transaction boundary
• No integrity constraints
• No standard data manipulation language
• No certification program
Separate Separate Oracle Oracle
Database Database ServersServers
Separate Separate Oracle Oracle
Database Database ServersServers
Transaction Boundary
Data CatridgesData CatridgesData CatridgesData Catridges
Oracle’s Competing Architectures
• Oracle 7.3 with hard-wired support for 4 data types– spatial, time series, text media– separate servers employed for each
• Oracle 8.0– mainly provides patches to scalability and performance issues– extremely limited object support
• Network Computing Architecture (NCA)– “data catridges” as middle-ware, CORBA interface– advanced data outside the control and optimization of server
• Data Cartridges as part of the server– perhaps in Oracle 8.1 or 8.2
Performance Appraisal: Industry View of Oracle’s NCA
“Oracle 8 will (at least initially) suffer performance shortcomings compared with the IUS single database engine..”
Meta Group, 2/97
“Oracle faces a significant challenge in achieving adequate performance when interfacing Data Cartridge functions with core database services.”
Patricia Seybold Group, 2/97
Informix vs. Oracle: Predefined Data Types
•Web/Electronic Commerce–Video DataBlade (VXtreme) –DesCrypt DataBlade (Prime Factors)– Internet Commerce DataBlade (Open
Market)– Real-time Profiling DataBlade (Excalibur)
– Content Management DataBlade (MKS)
• Oracle: Few if any Data Catridges are shipping.• Informix: A sample of available Data Blades...
• Data Warehousing/Financial– DataCleanser DataBlade (EDD)– OptiLink DataBlade (CPT)– Fuzzy Search DataBlade (Expector)– TimeSeries DataBlade (Fame)– Reporting DataBlade (SLP-Statistiques)– Decision Series DataBlade (NeoVista)
• Geospatial– GeoCoding DataBlade (MapInfo)– Global/Interval DataBlade (Telcontar)– Visualization DataBlade (ECOlogic)
• Text– Text DataBlade (Verity)– Text Search/Management DataBlade
(Excalibur)– NameTag DataBlade (IsoQuest)– PLS Text DataBlade (PLS)– Document Objects DataBlade
(ArborText)– LiveLink DataBlade (Open Text)
Digital Media
– PixFactory DataBlade (Kodak)– Image Search DataBlade (Excalibur)– Face Recognition DataBlade (Excalibur)– Scene Detection DataBlade (Excalibur)– Visual Info Retrieval DataBlade (Virage)– Audio Information Retrieval DataBlade
(Muscle Fish)– TigerMark DataBlade (NEC)
Oracle’s Negative Campaigning Against Informix
“In one of the most vicious smear campaigns in recent software history, Oracle has been attacking the integrity of [Informix’s] database”
PC Week 2/17/97
“We believe the actual exposures with Informix’s DataBlades have been miniscule.”
Gartner Group, 12/96
Web / Conent Wins Over Oracle
• SouthWestern Bell
• Nike
• Fidelity
• IVillage
Topics Architecture OLTP Data Warehouse Content Management
– Informix’s Universal Server was designed from the start for advanced content management. Oracle 8 and the NCA are cobbled together components which will not fare well in real world applications.
• Summary
Summary: Informix
• Informix– Mission: Deliver absolute best database technology – Single and extensible server arhitecture– Tight integration with best-of-breed application partners– Results for the Customer:
• lower cost-to-serve • flexibility and simplicity• extended lifespan of applications• clear support for the future enterprise with Universal Server
Summary: Oracle
• Oracle– Mission: Cover as many bases as possible in the market with
combinations of existing products.– Lock customers into Oracle products; partner only when
necessary– Results for the Customer
• higher overall costs due to non-integration• performance limitations• expensive services• questionable path to future with Oracle 8 and NCA