A List of Database Management Systems

This is a list of all the database management systems that I have been able to identify. If you
know of any others, then please email them to me!
The systems are listed by type: relational(R), extended-relational(X), object-relational(OR),
object-oriented(OO), network(N) and hierarchical(H). Note that some vendors state that their
DBMS is more than one of these. In such a case the DBMS type is specified by more than one
designation. For example, Centura Software states that their Velocis database is based on both
the relational and network models, and in this case the designation "RN" has been specified.
For the primary market, some liberties have been taken with regard to the use of the term
"Enterprise." Specifically, if a vendor does not indicate a primary market for their DBMS, then
the primary market has been specified as "Enterprise."
DBMS

Vendor

Type

Primary Market

Access (Jet, MSDE)

Microsoft
Adabas D
Software AG
Adaptive Server Anywhere Sybase
Adaptive Server Enterprise Sybase
Advantage Database Server Extended Systems
Datacom
Computer Associates
DB2 Everyplace
IBM
Filemaker
FileMaker Inc.
IDMS
Computer Associates
Ingres ii
Computer Associates
Interbase
Inprise (Borland)
MySQL
Freeware
NonStop SQL
Tandem
Pervasive.SQL 2000
Pervasive Software
(Btrieve)
Pervasive.SQL Workgroup Pervasive Software
Progress
Progress Software
Quadbase SQL Server
Quadbase Systems, Inc.
R:Base
R:Base Technologies
Rdb
Oracle

R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R

Desktop
Enterprise
Mobile/Embedded
Enterprise
Mobile/Enterprise
Enterprise
Mobile
Desktop
Enterprise
Enterprise
Open Source
Open Source
Enterprise

Embedded

R
R
Relational
Relational
R

Red Brick

Informix (Red Brick)

SQL Server
SQLBase

Microsoft
Centura Software

R
R

Enterprise (Windows 32)

Mobile/Embedded
Enterprise
Enterprise
Enterprise
Enterprise (Data
Warehousing)
Enterprise
Mobile/Embedded

SUPRA
Teradata
YARD-SQL

Cincom
NCR
YARD Software Ltd.
TimesTen Performance
Software
Software AG
Computer Corporation of
America
Informix (Ardent)
Informix (Ardent)
InterSystems
Informix
IBM

R
R
R

Enterprise
VLDB (Data Warehousing)
Enterprise

In-Memory

XR

Enterprise

XR

VLDB

XR
XR
OR
OR
OR

Enterprise
Enterprise
Enterprise
Mobile/Embedded
Enterprise/VLDB

Informix

OR

Enterprise

Informix

OR

VLDB (Data Warehousing)

Oracle
Oracle
PointBase
PointBase
PointBase
Freeware
Cincom
Computer Associates
Exceleron
Objectivity
Poet Software
Versant Corporation
Centura Software
Centura Software

OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OO
OO
OO
OO
OO
RN
RN

Db.linux

Centura Software

RNH

Db.star

Centura Software

RNH

Mobile
Enterprise
Embedded
Mobile
Enterprise
Open Source
Enterprise
Enterprise
Enterprise
VLDB (Scientific)
Enterprise
Enterprise
Mobile/Embedded
Enterprise/Embedded
Open
Source/Mobile/Embedded
Open
Source/Mobile/Embedded
Enterprise

TimesTen
Adabas
Model 204
UniData
UniVerse
Cache'
Cloudscape
DB2
Informix Dynamic Server
2000
Informix Extended Parallel
Server
Oracle Lite
Oracle 8I
PointBase Embedded
PointBase Mobile
PointBase Network Server
PostgreSQL
UniSQL
Jasmine ii
Object Store
Objectivity DB
POET Object Server Suite
Versant
Raima Database Manager
Velocis

IMS DB
IBM
Top five open source DBMS
By Manoj Venkat
January 20, 2011

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4 Comments
A Database Management System (DBMS) is a set of computer programs that controls the
creation, maintenance, and the use of a database. It allows organizations to place control of
database development in the hands of database administrators (DBAs) and other specialists. A
DBMS is a system software package that helps the use of integrated collection of data records
and files known as databases. It allows different user application programs to easily access the

same database.
Although, Microsoft SQL service is a considerable option but I hate it because of its restrictions
and worst of all, its a closed source.
Top five open source dbms softwares :
1.MySql: MySQL is a relational database management system (RDBMS)[1] that runs as a server
providing multi-user access to a number of databases.But it imposes terms on usage of this on a
commercial project.MySQL is also used in many high-profile, large-scale World Wide Web
products, including Wikipedia, Google and Facebook.
2.Oracle : The Oracle Database (commonly referred to as Oracle RDBMS or simply as Oracle) is
an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) produced and marketed by Oracle
Corporation.
3.Apache Derby : Apache Derby is a Java relational database management system that can be
embedded in Java programs and used for online transaction processing.Its database utilities like
Derby Network Server,Derby Embedded Database Engine, Embedded Network Server.
Considerably good option for networking and also the firm is advancing in cloud computing
using this technology.

4.Postgre SQL : PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management

system (ORDBMS). It is released under an MIT-style license and is thus free and open source
software. This database suits well for django and turbogears whichre the famous web
frameworks. PostgreSql 9 is released last October.
5.SqLite : SQLite is an ACID-compliant embedded relational database management system
contained in a relatively small C programming library.SQLite uses a dynamically and weakly
typed SQL syntax that does not guarantee the domain integrity, which gives rise to criticism.
Unlike clientserver database management systems, the SQLite engine has no standalone
processes with which the application program communicates. Instead, the SQLite library is
linked in and thus becomes an integral part of the application program.
he continuing acceptance and growing usage of Linux as an enterprise computing platform has
enlivened the open source community. The term "open source" refers to software that users are
free to run, copy, distribute, study, change, and improve. Often "open source" gets misinterpreted
to mean free software. This is understandable, but the open source concept of free is closer to
liberty than it is to no charge.
Generally speaking, open source software will adhere to the following beliefs: Users are free to
run the program, for any purpose; they are free to inspect the actual source code of the program
to determine how it works; they are free to modify and adapt the software to their specific needs;
they are free to redistribute copies to whomever; and they are also free to release code
improvements to the public, to benefit the whole community.
Open source is not limited to Linux. LAMP solutions are frequently deployed for database
applications and systems that meet certain criteria. The acronym LAMP is commonly used as a
shortcut to specify the most popular open source software: Linux, Apache Web server, MySQL
DBMS, and the PHP/Python/Perl development languages. It is a collective of open source
software that can be used to deploy applications with minimal cost, which is the intriguing part
to most of its adopters.
The "no cost" aspect of open source and LAMP is both a positive and a negative. It is positive for
the obvious reason; no one wants to spend money for something if they can avoid it, right? Of
course, the "no cost" label only applies to the initial acquisition cost of the software, and then
only maybe. Red Hat, MySQL, and others sell distributions of their software to make
implementation and management easier.
Ongoing support is crucial. Most organizations do not want to implement mission-critical
software with no recourse should problems occur. In other words, support is required for
enterprise software when your organization encounters problems. There are companies that sell
this support for open source software. But if you buy the software and the support to go along
with it, how much different is this than commercial software? Well, a bit (see second paragraph
again), but not as much as some think.
There are limits to open source adoption. For example, not many major insurance companies
would choose to implement their policy or customer system using open source software.

Typically, mission-critical applications like these require the robust functionality and durability
of commercial systems software. This is slowly changing as organizations adopt the Linux
operating system for some "mission-critical" applications. It will take longer for open source
DBMS products to gain a similar reputation and implementation, though. Today, most open
source DBMS software is deployed in conjunction with the major enterprise DBMSs (Oracle,
DB2, and SQL Server) or in SMBs that cannot cost-justify an enterprise DBMS.
I think open source database technology is in an awkward phase of its lifecycle today. Typically,
open source DBMS products - MySQL, Firebird, PostgreSQL, and Berkeley DB - are simpler to
use than enterprise DBMS products because they do not have all the bells and whistles of
enterprise software. Over time, though, features are being added to the open source players.
Triggers, stored procedures, integrity constraints, and so on cause the open source DBMS
products to become more complex to use. But their simplicity and easy-to-use reputation is what
endeared them to smaller organizations and quick-and-dirty applications. As the open source
DBMS moves away from its initial sweet spot in terms of how and when it is implemented,
growing pains could ensue.
Another issue being faced by the open source DBMS world is Oracle's acquisitive ways. Of the
four DBMS products mentioned above, two, Berkeley DB and now MySQL, are owned by
Oracle. What will the future of open source DBMS hold if the major players are gobbled up by
the commercial DBMS companies?
A dark horse in the open source DBMS market is Ingres, which began its life as a commercial
product. Ingres was open sourced by CA (its previous owner) in May 2004. Somewhat different
than other open source DBMS offerings, Ingres' heritage enables it to deliver high-volume
transaction processing, high availability, multiplatform support, and security for mission-critical
application deployments. In other words, it already has the bells and whistles of a commercial
DBMS because it was one for years.
And it is impossible to cover the open source DBMS market without discussing EnterpriseDB.
Basically, EnterpriseDB is to open source DBMS (PostgreSQL) as Red Hat is to open source
operating systems (Linux). EnterpriseDB offers subscription plans and support for the
PostgreSQL DBMS. The company has earned a reputation for offering Oracle compatibility,
touting the ability of its customers to replace the Oracle DBMS with PostgreSQL and not have to
change its application code. Even IBM licensed some of EnterpriseDB's Oracle compatibility
functionality for its latest version of DB2.
The bottom line is that there is a wealth of options if you are interested in using an open source
DBMS. But know what your needs are and what features are available in the open source DBMS
products before diving headfirst into the open source waters.