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I've not looked at MS-SQL in a long time. My business ships software using PostgreSQL. Does anyone have, in their opinion, compelling reasons why one should c

I've not looked at MS-SQL in a long time. My business ships software using PostgreSQL. Does anyone have, in their opinion, compelling reasons why one should consider MS-SQL on Linux for either a new project or potential migrating too? Consider too, PostgreSQL runs under Windows as a service too. What does MS-SQL have that PostgreSQL does not?

samch 10y ago
There will undoubtably be a number of good responses here to your question, but I'd like to share my opinion. For me, the answer comes down to tooling. I make frequent use of Integration Services, Reporting Services, the Server Agent, Profiler, and other services I'm not remembering at the moment. In my mind, SQL Server represents an ecosystem of tools and services that are simply part of the package (no additional cost) and are fully supported and integrated as part of a comprehensive suite.
bsg75 10y ago
If they ported query parallelism across CPU cores as base MSSQL on Windows has, that would be a significant differentiator for those in the DWH / analytics space. Its also likely this is a attempt to keep customers on the MSSQL platform who otherwise don't have a need for a commercial OS, and may be willing to keep paying for MSSQL while cutting their OS expenses.
- JimmyAustin 10y ago
  Postgres added query parallelism in 9.6!
  - bsg75 10y ago
    Correct, but for a limited set of query plans. It does mean progress is being made however.
dhd415 10y ago
I love pgsql and it has some features that SQL Server does not, but SQL Server also has a range of features that pgsql does not including index-organized tables, automatically-updated materialized views, much more mature support for query parallelization, etc. Lots of the discussion in this older thread is still relevant: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9464505 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9464505 Edit: fixed link.
edpichler 10y ago
I think this product in targeted to companies who already have a MS-SQL database, and now can consider use Linux.
- wavefunction 10y ago
  ^^^Or even move their on-premise or NOC'd IIS servers into Azure's Linux environment.
  - ickler8 10y ago
    ding ding ding
mr_overalls 10y ago
Licensing fees.

samch 10y ago

There will undoubtably be a number of good responses here to your question, but I'd like to share my opinion. For me, the answer comes down to tooling. I make frequent use of Integration Services, Reporting Services, the Server Agent, Profiler, and other services I'm not remembering at the moment. In my mind, SQL Server represents an ecosystem of tools and services that are simply part of the package (no additional cost) and are fully supported and integrated as part of a comprehensive suite.

bsg75 10y ago

If they ported query parallelism across CPU cores as base MSSQL on Windows has, that would be a significant differentiator for those in the DWH / analytics space. Its also likely this is a attempt to keep customers on the MSSQL platform who otherwise don't have a need for a commercial OS, and may be willing to keep paying for MSSQL while cutting their OS expenses.

JimmyAustin 10y ago
Postgres added query parallelism in 9.6!
- bsg75 10y ago
  Correct, but for a limited set of query plans. It does mean progress is being made however.

dhd415 10y ago

I love pgsql and it has some features that SQL Server does not, but SQL Server also has a range of features that pgsql does not including index-organized tables, automatically-updated materialized views, much more mature support for query parallelization, etc. Lots of the discussion in this older thread is still relevant: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9464505 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9464505 Edit: fixed link.

edpichler 10y ago

I think this product in targeted to companies who already have a MS-SQL database, and now can consider use Linux.

wavefunction 10y ago
^^^Or even move their on-premise or NOC'd IIS servers into Azure's Linux environment.
- ickler8 10y ago
  ding ding ding

mr_overalls 10y ago

Licensing fees.