MB Elite - Why Upgrade? - Reason 26 - Industry Standard SQL

Why Upgrade?

Reason 26

Industry Standard SQL

Make sure your SQL software won't let you down.

Masterbill³ Users will be aware that the system was our first system to make use of an SQL database.  When we were trying to decide which SQL database to use when we developed the system some 15 years ago we looked at all available options and considered a number of factors including; the Server Operating System Requirements and Cost.

Although our preference would have been to use a Microsoft SQL, the fact that this would require a Windows server rather than the then popular Novell server meant that we decided to use a Sybase SQL as it was able to sit on a Windows, Novell or even a Unix server. This decision was a good one for 14 years but last year Sybase decided that they could no longer support the version of the software that we had built our software upon back in 1995 and so withdrew all support including website resources and forums.

 In some ways this has made very little difference to the majority of Masterbill³ users but just recently we have seen a number of companies replacing their hardware only to find out that the Sybase SQL does not work on Windows 2008 Server or Windows 7 especially if they are installed in the 64 bit mode.

When we developed Masterbill Elite in 2004 we again faced the decision of which SQL software to use and again looked at the available options and decided that now was the time to make the switch to Microsoft SQL especially as a number of users had requested this as they already had Windows servers running Microsoft SQL and their IT staff knew how to support it.

Switching to Microsoft has definitely been a good move as their SQL Server is compatible with all the latest versions of Windows and they have even produced a free version (SQL Express) which we recommend for smaller systems (up to 3 users).

It seems that the clock is now ticking on the Sybase solution and the future continues to look bright with Microsoft.