Comparing IBM Informix and Oracle Database for High Availability and Data Replication

ITG — International Technology Group
Executive Brief January 2014

International Technology Group (ITG), established in 1983, is an independent research and management consulting firm specializing in information technology (IT) investment strategy, cost/benefit metrics, infrastructure studies, deployment tactics, business alignment and financial analysis.

Conclusions

The capabilities of Informix 12 provide clear-cut value as an alternative to Oracle database and RAC in distributed as well as centralized deployments. They also however have broader implications.

Growth in conventional data volumes and the emerging world of Big Data are making replication an increasingly critical feature of the IT landscape. At the same time, pressures to accelerate collection, interpretation and delivery of information are placing new stress on database and date warehouse infrastructures.

These trends make integrated database and replication architecture — which is unique to Informix — increasingly attractive. Organizations may accelerate data management and movement process while minimizing use of server resources and network bandwidth, reducing administrative complexities, maintaining availability and operating transparently across diverse hardware and software bases.

Organizations with longstanding Oracle commitments may argue that Oracle is their database standard. However, as far as costs are concerned, "sole source" procurements seldom represent a best practice in the IT world. Informix 12 offers an opportunity for great cost-effectiveness.

Costs are not the only issue. Legacy data structures leave organizations ill equipped to deal with the challenges of data growth and sophistications, as well as real-time delivery of information. Even where these challenges can be met with new add-ons and overlays, software stacks will grow increasingly complex and inefficient, and costs will escalate.

Where database infrastructure must meet the challenge of the future, Informix is an obvious candidate.

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