http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2010/12/oracle-vs-sql-server-take-ii/
Technical Jargon
Microsoft SQL Server | Oracle |
---|---|
instance (server) | database |
database | schema |
schema | No direct equivalent. |
login | user |
user | user |
permission | privilege (priv) |
indexed view | materialized view (snapshot) |
T-SQL | PLSQL (mostly) |
Error Logs | Alert Log |
Log file | Redo Logs |
Execution Plan | Explain Plan |
Re-Compiles | FLUSH SGA (wipes out ALL cached plans) OR in 10/11g use baseline control (not nearly as common) |
The underlying fundamentals of a RDBMS hold true for both SQL Server and Oracle. If you ‘know’ one, you will be able to transition into another. Some things are actually exactly the same but have different names. Others are similar but have their own twist in implementation or architecture. Clustering and HA are examples of where you would see major differences, and partitioning would be a place where you’d have only minor differences (other than available partitioning schemes in SQL Server).
Tools
Microsoft SQL Server | Oracle |
---|---|
SSMS | OEM |
Query Analyzer | SQL Developer |
Server Side Trace | DBMS_SYSTEM|Monitor|Support + tkProf |
Profiler | OEM can be used to start a trace. |
Maintenance Plan | No direct equivalent. (jobs?) |
DMV | SYS View |
Default Traces | No direct equivalent. |
SSIS | OBIEE |
PowerShell | SH (*NIX) |
Clustering | RAC (kind of, but not really) |
Log Shipping | ? |
Mirroring | Streams|Data Guard|GoldenGate |
More GUIs from Microsoft – surprise, surprise! More packages and command-line tools from Oracle. However this is quickly evolving. Also, I doubt that this point rarely surfaces as the deal-breaker when it comes to choosing one platform over the other. It’s more of an issue for the people who get to support the database after-the-fact.
Community
Microsoft SQL Server | Oracle |
---|---|
MSDN | OTN |
PASS | ODTUG|IOUG|UKOUG|… |
PASS Summit | Oracle Open World |
PASS Chapters | Local Oracle User Groups (independent) RMOUG, SOUG, … |
SQLBits | UKOUG Annual Conference |
SQL Saturday | No direct equivalent. |
SQL Server Central | OraFaq|OTN |
SQLServerPedia | OraDBPedia |
Buck Woody|Paul Randall|Brent Ozar… | Tom Kyte|Cary Milsap|Alex Gorbachev… |
#SQLHELP | #ORACLEHELP (barely) |
SQL MVP | Oracle ACE |
Both communities are mature, strong, and active. The major difference I see is the major fragmentation on the Oracle side. I would say this is due a combination of factors, but the amount of time is probably the biggest one. I would say that PASS in 10 years will look drastically different today, and would not be surprised if it starts to splinter into different groups. Don’t assume that because there is no unifying ‘PASS’ that local groups of Oracle professionals do not congregate. There are many, and they are very dedicated.