8 ms·

I'd love to, but I guess I'm in the situation a lot of folks are in. One of our software vendors used Oracle for its backend, so we have the privilege of havin

I'd love to, but I guess I'm in the situation a lot of folks are in. One of our software vendors used Oracle for its backend, so we have the privilege of having to pay for an Oracle DB, but we also don't get direct support. Sadly, we haven't hit the point where we cannot replace the damn software. The other thing that truly ticks me off is the lack of any virtualization option for the damn thing that doesn't 8x my current cost. These damn fools actually had the nerve to call me about their HR software. I would rather buy another iSeries machine, thanks. Oh well, it goes so well with the PowerBuilder-based database some government agency foisted on all its grant recipients. At least I don't have to pay a per CPU fee for that one.

toomuchtodo 10y ago
I don't expect everyone to be able to do so. I'm simply saying that if the opportunity to migrate presents itself in a cost effective manner, do so. If scoping/requirements comes up, recommend Postgresql over Oracle at the beginning of the project. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
- jimnotgym 10y ago
  I wish there was an ERP on the market that would allow me to do that! ERP is about as locked in as a company can get, isn't it. At the moment anything involving Oracle is not under consideration
  - justinclift 10y ago
    Just to point out xTuple (ERP using PostgreSQL) exists and has a decent reputation: https://xtuple.com https://xtuple.com Haven't used it personally though. :)
    - jimnotgym 10y ago
      Thanks,thats a nice idea. Unfortunately their UK partner seems a little small and niche for our needs.
  - zoom6628 10y ago
    Try Epicor ERP or one of their other ERP products if you are in a more specialist industry.
    - jimnotgym 10y ago
      I thought Epicor was the graveyard of ERP businesses?
  - MyPussyFarts 10y ago
    http://www.viennaadvantage.com http://www.viennaadvantage.com is the dick you should be sucking of you need a decent ERP suite
- sdfin 10y ago
  Is there some website or technical article that compares Oracle DB to Postgres and explains the advantages of Postgres? I know the data required for the comparison is out there, but if it's already nicely written somewhere I'd find it handy.
  - jimnotgym 10y ago
    I think this is unlikely to be possible, and acknowledging that I don't have any postgres projects in production, but this may help. 1) except in extreme edge cases it is likely that either would be a technically capable DB for a large project. 2) Cost is a huge factor. Take your Oracle licensing costs for the life of the project. The cost of specialised hardware, and the uncertainty of its future. The cost of hosting is also a part of that. Look at the cost and availability of DBA's in your area. Now apply a discounted cash flow analysis to that, and it is not likely to beat 'free' 3) The Oracle ecosystem is looking uncertain. I can imagine the SPARC hardware you buy now not getting great support, maybe you will have to move platforms? Conversely it seems probably that you could run Postgres/Linux on any x86 VM's you want for the next decade or so!
    - sdfin 10y ago
      Thanks. It's very easy to find hundreds of sales pitchs about commercial products, and Oracle even creates notes about the disadvantages of Postgres [1]. Finding equivalent publications about the advantages of open source software requires more work. [1] https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/CANNMO++6tPiwBv2OKcy-HhiYmByhL+XSSUH3NDvOs3G1VVg++g@mail.gmail.com https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/CANNMO++6tPiwBv2OKcy-H...
      - chris_wot 10y ago
        There are also issues that you normally wouldn't have to worry about. The biggest is the risk of being audited by Oracle, and the threat that they will make you either purchase other products, or sue you for a lot more money. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10207495 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10207495 They recently did this with a Java as well: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/16/oracle_targets_java_users_non_compliance/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/16/oracle_targets_java_...
- tastythrowaway2 10y ago
  That last sentence is just great advice in general. Kudos.
- tastythrowaway2 10y ago
  That last sentence is just great advice in general. Kudos.
jimnotgym 10y ago
We are in exactly that position actually, and it is one of the reasons we are in the late stages of choosing a new ERP. Unfortunately that will likely be locked in and closed source too, but at least you have serious hosting options with MS SQLserver.
- numbsafari 10y ago
  What space are you? Are you selecting an industry specific ERP or something more general purpose?
  - jimnotgym 10y ago
    Mostly wholesale but with significant retail/ Mail order and telesales operations. We are relatively complex due to the multi channel nature. We have some special needs as we run a bonded (duty suspended) warehouse but they are limited. We are looking firmly in the general purpose market. Stuff like MS Nav and my current usability favorite SAP Business One. The company has limited in house tech and needs a lot of implementation support and a third party who will manage the DB
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
sergers 10y ago
We have been using Oracle as db for one of our systems. No other option from the vendor. The vendor got a special agreement with Oracle that limits VM to 16 cores. Pricing is identical to physical.. a very rare price because it's for specific use. We had a one time fee, and annual 10% maintenance (fully managed and supported through vendor)... We have a DBA that runs some custom reports, but that's about it... It's a very specialized proprietary system/software, so don't have any options to convert to anything else we using on our farm
numbsafari 10y ago
If you don't mind me asking, what kind of application is it that you are running that requires Oracle? Could be an interesting opportunity for disruption...
- protomyth 10y ago
  College enrollment, reporting, and tracking We probably will move in a number of years, but it currently works for the users. I would drop them in a heartbeat just because of the multi-hundred megabyte SQL files they ship as part of the upgrades. I guess installers are hard.

toomuchtodo 10y ago

I don't expect everyone to be able to do so. I'm simply saying that if the opportunity to migrate presents itself in a cost effective manner, do so. If scoping/requirements comes up, recommend Postgresql over Oracle at the beginning of the project. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.

jimnotgym 10y ago
I wish there was an ERP on the market that would allow me to do that! ERP is about as locked in as a company can get, isn't it. At the moment anything involving Oracle is not under consideration
- justinclift 10y ago
  Just to point out xTuple (ERP using PostgreSQL) exists and has a decent reputation: https://xtuple.com https://xtuple.com Haven't used it personally though. :)
  - jimnotgym 10y ago
    Thanks,thats a nice idea. Unfortunately their UK partner seems a little small and niche for our needs.
- zoom6628 10y ago
  Try Epicor ERP or one of their other ERP products if you are in a more specialist industry.
  - jimnotgym 10y ago
    I thought Epicor was the graveyard of ERP businesses?
- MyPussyFarts 10y ago
  http://www.viennaadvantage.com http://www.viennaadvantage.com is the dick you should be sucking of you need a decent ERP suite
sdfin 10y ago
Is there some website or technical article that compares Oracle DB to Postgres and explains the advantages of Postgres? I know the data required for the comparison is out there, but if it's already nicely written somewhere I'd find it handy.
- jimnotgym 10y ago
  I think this is unlikely to be possible, and acknowledging that I don't have any postgres projects in production, but this may help. 1) except in extreme edge cases it is likely that either would be a technically capable DB for a large project. 2) Cost is a huge factor. Take your Oracle licensing costs for the life of the project. The cost of specialised hardware, and the uncertainty of its future. The cost of hosting is also a part of that. Look at the cost and availability of DBA's in your area. Now apply a discounted cash flow analysis to that, and it is not likely to beat 'free' 3) The Oracle ecosystem is looking uncertain. I can imagine the SPARC hardware you buy now not getting great support, maybe you will have to move platforms? Conversely it seems probably that you could run Postgres/Linux on any x86 VM's you want for the next decade or so!
  - sdfin 10y ago
    Thanks. It's very easy to find hundreds of sales pitchs about commercial products, and Oracle even creates notes about the disadvantages of Postgres [1]. Finding equivalent publications about the advantages of open source software requires more work. [1] https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/CANNMO++6tPiwBv2OKcy-HhiYmByhL+XSSUH3NDvOs3G1VVg++g@mail.gmail.com https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/CANNMO++6tPiwBv2OKcy-H...
    - chris_wot 10y ago
      There are also issues that you normally wouldn't have to worry about. The biggest is the risk of being audited by Oracle, and the threat that they will make you either purchase other products, or sue you for a lot more money. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10207495 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10207495 They recently did this with a Java as well: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/16/oracle_targets_java_users_non_compliance/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/16/oracle_targets_java_...
tastythrowaway2 10y ago
That last sentence is just great advice in general. Kudos.
tastythrowaway2 10y ago
That last sentence is just great advice in general. Kudos.

jimnotgym 10y ago

We are in exactly that position actually, and it is one of the reasons we are in the late stages of choosing a new ERP. Unfortunately that will likely be locked in and closed source too, but at least you have serious hosting options with MS SQLserver.

numbsafari 10y ago
What space are you? Are you selecting an industry specific ERP or something more general purpose?
- jimnotgym 10y ago
  Mostly wholesale but with significant retail/ Mail order and telesales operations. We are relatively complex due to the multi channel nature. We have some special needs as we run a bonded (duty suspended) warehouse but they are limited. We are looking firmly in the general purpose market. Stuff like MS Nav and my current usability favorite SAP Business One. The company has limited in house tech and needs a lot of implementation support and a third party who will manage the DB

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

sergers 10y ago

We have been using Oracle as db for one of our systems. No other option from the vendor. The vendor got a special agreement with Oracle that limits VM to 16 cores. Pricing is identical to physical.. a very rare price because it's for specific use. We had a one time fee, and annual 10% maintenance (fully managed and supported through vendor)... We have a DBA that runs some custom reports, but that's about it... It's a very specialized proprietary system/software, so don't have any options to convert to anything else we using on our farm

numbsafari 10y ago

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of application is it that you are running that requires Oracle? Could be an interesting opportunity for disruption...

protomyth 10y ago
College enrollment, reporting, and tracking We probably will move in a number of years, but it currently works for the users. I would drop them in a heartbeat just because of the multi-hundred megabyte SQL files they ship as part of the upgrades. I guess installers are hard.