SQL Database Backend for Accounting Software 30
Rick Sharp asks: "At my firm we use a pretty good mix of Linux, BSD and Novell solutions for our networking needs. We don't have any NT servers, and don't intend to start either. However, I was told today by the vendor of our accounting software package (Harper and Schuman) that our program would require MS-SQL 7.0 after the next upgrade cycle, which is only a few months off. Does anyone know if it is possible to use this package with a Linux SQL database. We currently are using PostgreSQL on Linux for some other projects, and I would not like to get sucked into an MS-SQL only solution."
Re:sql (Score:1)
The Deadly Embrace and why it's (now) hurting (Score:1)
Re:Oops! (Score:1)
I've been working with ODBC Socket Server for about a month now, and I'm incredibly happy with it.
We're tied into a Centura SQLBase backend for our ERP package but wanted to publish some of that data to our webserver. Centura doesn't make enough information available to create a Linux-side client, leaving only JDBC as an option. I'm not familiar with Java and don't want to be.
ODBC Socket Server works great for us and has allowed us to stay with the web server-side languages that we're familiar with (Perl and PHP3).
PDC on the SQL server? Ooohh bad MCSE, bad MCSE. (Score:1)
Sorry, I've been through the pain. PDC, BDC and SQL server as separate boxes, preferably have the PDC at a separate site.
Also, with accounting systems, you don't
, you .Adding another platform is expensive. (Score:1)
It'd be worth mentioning to them that in order to run NT/SQL server 7, you would have to employ an NT sysadmin, a SQL server admin, buy hardware for PDC, BDC and SQL server system, upgrade the network to cope with the additional load, consultancy on the topology, training, PC upgrades to run the new clients etc etc.
Sounds like it might be cheaper for you to go with someone else's "more expensive?" accounting software...
Sybase? (Score:1)
not so humble opinion. (Score:1)
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the amazing bc
latin/funk flugelhorn & trumpet
webnaut, music junkie, sysadmin from hell
Re:Options (Score:1)
You don't stand a ice cube's chance in hell of seamlessly moving someone else's front end over to talk to a different DB they don't support without having the source code and programmers who can adjust for differences in SQL dialects.
SQL7 doesn't seem bad at all for what we run it for (to back up SalesLogix). It has been reliable (no crashes) and fast.
Re:Adding another platform is expensive. (Score:1)
I'm an MCSE (and heavy user of Linux), and will speak against the "party line" by pointing out that you can easily run the PDC and SQL on the same (decent) server, your network will very likely be just fine since it is supporting the accounting software now, and you don't need a full-timer on staff to keep it running.
Pay a competent NT/SQL admin get it up and running, then have them periodically come back or dial in to verify everything is working OK, etc.
If they are also moving all the client to Windows, Colin is right, you need to include the cost of a bunch of new PCs etc.
NT has more than it's share of Issues, but it works fine with good people at the helm. Can you really say that Linux or Unix tolerate incompetent sysadmins any better than NT? I can't.
Re:PDC on the SQL server? Ooohh bad MCSE, bad MCSE (Score:1)
Certainly they should not need a person there working in it all the time.
Re:Adding another platform is expensive. (Score:1)
An NT domain is really only required to support a bunch of Microsoft infrastructure. One SQL server doesn't really justify an entire domain.
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Re:sql (Score:1)
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Re:Options (Score:1)
So while it's true you can point fingers at MSSQL and say that it isn't as good as Oracle or DB2, in this case it's a probably huge improvement over the existing system.
MSSQL 7 handles small datastores without much trouble, and with virtually no DB administration required. It's often used in 'turnkey' packages like accounting software for this reason.
It sucks that you have to support a new platform (NT) just for one application, but as others have said, the only real alternative is to switch vendors.
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Re:Sybase? (Score:1)
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Re:Adding another platform is expensive. (Score:1)
the next question is, do you have to upgrade? The version you have works, on the system you have. If when your vendor calls you and tells you that they've got their new version out and you should upgrade, just say "Sorry, but your upgrade won't run on our servers. As soon as it does, we'll look at it." Who knows, they may even pay attention to you. (but probably not. The company I work for is one of two dozen customers using the accounting package we have. Even though we represent about %5 of their market, they don't listen to us.)
But, in the end, I will have to say that adding an NT/MSSQL server shouldn't be too big of a problem. The biggest problem with most MS systems is admins and users mucking around with things they don't understand. If you just install NT, and install MSSQL, and pretty much leave the server alone after that, chances are it'll do OK. Microsoft makes the occasional great product, a few "fair to middlin'" ones, and many that really suck. NT Server and MSSQL seem to me to fall into that middle category. If you have reasonably competent people who know enough to run some other SQL server and are generally fairly careful, chances are you won't have any problems. The biggest headache I suspect you'll run into is figuring out how you want to do user authentication. Most accounting packages deal with this poorly. Very poorly. But now and then there's one that does, and if you want to be really slick you could set things up such that your users are logging into sql via integrated security (i.e. it authenticates against the NT OS password), in which case you may want to put your PDC on one of your linux boxen.
But that's just a suggestion. Personally I've always had a lot of fun with integrating Linux and NT networks. But then again, I'm kind of a sick and twisted person that way.
Finally, none of your choices is all that bad. If it were me, I'd ask the vendor to make changes, and if they ignore you, ask your bosses to try and find a better vendor, and if that doesn't work, oh well, there probably won't be too many problems (and you'll get something new to put on your resume)
Good luck!
Re:Options (Score:1)
There is a third option. Tell the vender to support Oracle or Sybase as backends on non NT environments or lose your busisness. Put the upgrade on hold, and start looking for replacements. When you send the letter make sure it is signed by your cheif technical officer and CEO. Also send it to their CEO/president as well as your salesman. Give it some teeth.
Re:Oops! (Score:1)
I'm going to check the page now.
The road ahead (Score:1)
So you've just bought 4 Win2K servers because your accounting package will use only SQL Server 7. What's that $25,000 minimum. I'm not even including licensing.
By the way, the city I work for is getting ready to start looking into enterprise financial systems to replace our legacy accounting system. Why do I have this fear that they may try a system that runs on Win2K? Why not. We spent $500,000 last year upgrading to Office 97.
You may be looking for a new vendor (Score:1)
And I've done a lot of looking, a good business accounting package for Linux doesn't seem to exist yet. I'm not talking quickbooks, but something you could actually use for a medium to large business.
Re:Adding another platform is expensive. (Score:1)
Re:Oops! (Score:1)
ODBC Socket Server (Score:1)
It includes clients for Perl, PHP, C++. The server is GPL, clients public domain.
I am the author, e-mail me with any questions at fxml@excite.com [mailto]. Check us out at: http://odbc.linuxbox.com [linuxbox.com].
Oops! (Score:1)
Re:Options (Score:2)
I second this. Either get an NT server or a new accounting package.
There are way too many little differences between SQL databases to transparently move from one to the other, 'specially without the blessing or support of the application's vendor.
IMHO, MS SQL Server 7 is one of the better MS products. It seems to work well as a backend for small-to-mid size web sites. Unfortunately it runs on NT :P
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Could work with Sybase (Score:3)
Options (Score:3)
Although a vast improvement over 6.5, and over the old DBs of the past, this is by no means saying anything worth being said, and both the Open Source, Oracle and IBM solutions are far more effective.
My recommendation would be to inform your vendor that you have no intention of getting MS-SQL 7, and if they want you to upgrade they had better find another solution. Back-ending into an SQL database in these cases is trivial, if your vendor has any sense they will have been using ODBC for some time, or at the very least the standard TDS 4.2 protocol that both Sybase and MS-SQL can talk.
If this is the case, you can at the very least back-end into Sybase, or more hopefully, anything with the relevant ODBC drivers.
If the vendor won't budge on this issue, my personal recommendation would be to drop them and find someone with sense. I wouldn't want people so obviously narrow minded writing my software. But I'm kinda hard-line on that sort of thing, you may well end up having to install NT/SQL-7.
In this case, I can offer one ray of gloomy light. NT is stable so long as its only doing one thing. From experience, if you install SQL-7 and other required software, and nothing else, and do nothing else with the box, and don't try anything tricky, it will remain relatively stable and perform reasonably.