Thread

  1. Is PostgreSQL ready for mission critical applications?

    Stephen Birch <sbirch@ironmountainsystems.com> — 1999-11-21T12:46:47Z

    Question: Is PostgreSQL ready for mission critical applications?
    ----------------------------------------------------
    
    This has to be a FAQ, but I cannot seem to get a good answer.
    
    I have just returned from a very interesting Comdex where I spend a few
    hours in the Linux area asking for opinions on this issue.
    
    Most people were unsure and suggested that MySQL has a great reputation
    for stability and may be a better choice.  Since I want transaction
    support, MySQL is not an option for me.  In fact, I really wanted the
    DBMS to support referential integrity as well, PostgreSQL doesn't  :-(
    
    Several people reminded me that MySQL is faster than PostgreSQL.
    However,  performance is far less important to me than the basic
    question of stability.   The database must be stable enough to run
    almost 24x7 and must never suffer from data corruption or from
    mysterious crashes.
    
    Is anyone out there actually using PostgreSQL for a mission critical
    application?
    
    Is PostgreSQL ready for prime time?
    
    Help!
    
    
    
    PS Many thanks to the MySQL advocate at the KDE stand who provided a
    compelling argument that my
    particular application did not need transactions.  Further thought
    convinced me that they are a requirement.
    Sorry I didn't get your name - yours was an insightful discussion.
    
    Also, thanks to Michele Webster at the Applix booth for a  lively
    discussion regarding this issue and for the suggestion that I post the
    question at the PostgreSQL site.
    
    
    
    
    
    
  2. Re: [GENERAL] Is PostgreSQL ready for mission critical applications?

    Kevin Heflin <kheflin@shreve.net> — 1999-11-21T14:58:57Z

    On Sun, 21 Nov 1999, Stephen Birch wrote:
    
    
    > Several people reminded me that MySQL is faster than PostgreSQL.
    > However,  performance is far less important to me than the basic
    > question of stability.   The database must be stable enough to run
    > almost 24x7 and must never suffer from data corruption or from
    > mysterious crashes.
    > 
    > Is anyone out there actually using PostgreSQL for a mission critical
    > application?
    > 
    > Is PostgreSQL ready for prime time?
    
    We've using Postgresql for nothing but mission critical work. Never have
    any problems with it. Don't have any complaints about the speed. We were
    running 6.3.2 for a long time, and recently upgraded to 6.5.x 
    Supposedly the newer version has some speed benefits, but again, we've
    never had any problems with speed to begin with.
    
    We chose postgresql over mysql about 3 years ago, due to the more complete
    sql support. Other than that, I just liked it better.
    
    Postgresql handles the authentication for our dial-up users.. we have over
    6000 users dialing into our network.
    
    The same server also handles request for some dynamic web pages which
    request information from postgresql.. sometimes with over a million hits
    per hour.
    
    All in all we've got about 100 different DBs on the server. All mission
    critical as far as I'm concerned, some more than others obviously.
    
    
    I've also received some great and timely help through the postgresql
    mailing lists.
    
    
    Good luck
    
    
    Kevin
    
    
    
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  3. Re: [GENERAL] Is PostgreSQL ready for mission critical applications?

    alessio@albourne.com — 1999-11-21T17:03:05Z

    Stephen Birch wrote:
    
    > Question: Is PostgreSQL ready for mission critical applications?
    
    > Several people reminded me that MySQL is faster than PostgreSQL.
    
    On this issue I simply stick with the defition I received at University:
    a DBMS (DataBase Management System) does transactions. Period. MySQL is
    not a DBMS, then, but something like DBM.
    
    -- 
    Alessio F. Bragadini		alessio@albourne.com
    APL Financial Services		http://www.sevenseas.org/~alessio
    Nicosia, Cyprus		 	phone: +357-2-750652
    
    You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. -- Shakespeare's "Othello"