Best Client/Server Database Management System

Sybase's System 10 Owns Top Ranking

Many organizations are trying to hang their hat on distributed computing using database management system (DBMS) products. Where mainframe-based products can solve large jobs but not small ones, desktop databases and the lower end of the DBMS group have the opposite problem. Only a few DBMS vendors--notably Sybase, Oracle and Microsoft--are nimble enough to handle different application scales, downsizing, upsizing or outsizing efficiently.
To do so, their products must run on a variety of server platforms, support access from the full complement of client platforms and handle all the networking infrastructure potholes flexibly and transparently. These database vendors are also the leaders in distributed features, including replication, distributed two-phase commit and scalable middleware options for accessing other data sources.
Sybase's System 10 presents the most opportunity and sits atop the DBMS world. Its replication server capabilities are particularly useful for distributed applications. It runs on a variety of server platforms, including Unix, NT, NetWare and OS/2. Sybase also has the most flexible middleware story, with legacy mainframe and other DBMS data sources supported with a full single system image using OmniSQL gateway.
Oracle v7 also runs on a variety of platforms (Unix, VMS, OS/2, NetWare, NT), and its new Workgroup 2000 and Personal versions scale down with an attractive price model.
Microsoft SQL Server 4.21A is a well-integrated solution, particularly for Microsoft n etworks. Despite NT's own scalability and good performance, SQL Server can't run on other operating systems, and so it doesn't quite fit for many organizations. Although it does support a wide variety of client platforms, replication won't be supported until the next version.

System 10, price varies,
Sybase,
6475 Christie Ave., Emeryville, CA 94608.
(510) 922-3500; fax (510) 658-9441.

Runners-Up
Oracle v7, Oracle Corp.,
500 Oracle Pkwy.,
Redwood Shores, CA 94065.
(415) 506-7000; fax (415) 506-7200.

Microsoft SQL Server 4.21A,
Microsoft Corp.,
One Microsoft Way,
Redmond, WA 98052-6399.
(206) 882-8080; (206) 93-MSFAX.