Relational Database Management Systems(RDBMS) have their roots way back to the early 1970s.  A RDBMS is a database management system in which data is stored in the form of tables, and the relationship among the data is also stored in the form of tables.

 

There are numerous RDBMS.  For a comparison, of some of the major RDBMS, please check out Wikipedia
 

Opensource RDBMS

 

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source relational database system with over 15 years of active development and a proven architecture that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness. Running on all major operating systems, including Linux, UNIX (AIX, BSD, HP-UX, SGI IRIX, Mac OS X, Solaris, Tru64), and Windows, it is fully ACID compliant, has full support for foreign keys, joins, views, triggers, and stored procedures (in multiple languages) and includes most SQL92 and SQL99 data types, including INTEGER, NUMERIC, BOOLEAN, CHAR, VARCHAR, DATE, INTERVAL, and TIMESTAMP. It also supports storage of binary large objects, including pictures, sounds, or video; and has native programming interfaces for C/C++, Java, .Net, Perl, Python, Ruby, Tcl, ODBC, among others.

 

          Planet PostgreSQL - A site dedicated to PostgreSQL related blogs.

          PostgreSQL Wiki

          Tech Republic - Articles and discussions on PostgreSQL

          InDemand.Net - List of technical links and reources for PostgreSQL

          PGSearch - A fast search engine indexing a number of PostgreSQL and PostgreSQL related websites.

          PGFoundry - PgFoundry is the PostgreSQL Development Group's site for developing and publishing PostgreSQL-related software.

          dBForums - Forums, articles, discussions on PostgreSQL

          Tek-Tips.com - Forums on PostgreSQL


MySQL

MySQL is the world's most popular open source database software, with over 100 million copies of its software downloaded or distributed throughout its history. Due to its speed, reliability, and ease of use, MySQL has become the preferred choice for Web, Web 2.0, SaaS, Telecom companies etc as it eliminates the major problems associated with downtime, maintenance and administration for modern, online applications.  MySQL is a key part of LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP / Perl / Python), the fast-growing open source enterprise software stack.

 

          MYSQL.com - Technical resources, articles, and discussion forums on MYSQL

          Sun Microsystems - Resources for systems administrators

          DevShed - MYSQL help, tips, tutorials, advice, tools etc

          ZDnet - Articles, tools, reources for MYSQL

          Programming Talk - MYSQL resources, forums, tools

          phpMyAdmin - Free  MYSQL database administration tool (written in php)

          MySQL Performance Blog

          dBForums - Forums, articles, discussions on MYSQL

 

Firebird

Firebird is a relational database offering many ANSI SQL standard features that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platforms. Firebird offers excellent concurrency, high performance, and powerful language support for stored procedures and triggers. It has been used in production systems, under a variety of names, since 1981.  The Firebird Project is a commercially independent project of C and C++ programmers, technical advisors and supporters developing and enhancing a multi-platform relational database management system based on the source code released by Inprise Corp (now known as Borland Software Corp) on 25 July, 2000.

 

          DevShed - Firebird tips, tutorials, advice, tools etc

          Firebird FAQ - Advice on installation, performance tuning, backup etc

          Tech Republic - Firebird articles, forums, tools etc
 

 

Other RDBMS

 

Oracle

Oracle is a rdbms produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation. Oracle Corp have been at the forefront of rdbms development and have many firsts attributed to them....the first commercially available SQL based database(1979), the first web based database(1997), the first database to support XML (1999) etc.Oracle is a rdbms produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation. Oracle Corp have been at the forefront of rdbms development and have many firsts attributed to them....the first commercially available SQL based database(1979), the first web based database(1997), the first database to support XML (1999) etc.

 

          Oracle Community - Oracle Technology Network, blogs, wikis, discussion forums, user groups.

          Oracle Support - Official Oracle support resources
          Oracle Magazine

          Oracle FAQs -  FAQs, message boards, tools etc

          dBForums - Forums, articles, discussions on MYSQL

 

DB2

DB2 (DATABASE 2) is a rdbms from IBM that was originally developed for its mainframes. It is a full-featured SQL language DBMS that has become IBM's major database product. Known for its industrial strength reliability, IBM has made DB/2 available for all of its own platforms, including OS/2, OS/400, AIX (RS/6000) and OS/390, as well as for Solaris on Sun systems and HP-UX on HP 9000 workstations and servers.


          IBM DB2 Information Centre - help, information, support and documentation

          IBM DB2 Wiki - Official IBM Db2 wiki

          UK DB2 User Group

          International DB2 User Group

 


Sybase

Customers choose Sybase for the same reasons they choose Linux and Linux applications – lightning-fast performance, lower cost of ownership, and the many benefits of open technology. Sybase was first to deliver an enterprise-class DBMS on Linux in 1999 and today, Sybase provides the most comprehensive combination of products and services supporting Linux in the industry

    

          Official Sybase Resolurces

          International Sybase User Group - Technical resources for Sybase database administrators and developers

          Rocket 99 - Technical guide to sybase development and administration

          Peppler.org - Sybase Resources



MS SQL Server

SQL Server is a RDBMS from Microsoft that's designed for the enterprise environment. SQL Server runs on T-SQL (Transact -SQL), a set of programming extensions from Sybase and Microsoft that add several features to standard SQL, including transaction control, exception and error handling, row processing, and declared variables.

 

          Microsoft Developer Network - Official Microsoft resources, tools, forums for SQL Server

          SQL Server Central - Articles, forums, advice for SQL Server

          SQL Server Performance.com - Articles, forums, tips, blogs etc for SQL Server

          Experts Exchange - Find solutions to your SQL Server based problems(paid service)

          SQL Hunt -  SQL Server resources search engine

          SQL Team.com - Articles, blogs, forums etc

          SQL Server Magazine

          SQL Server Worldwide Users Group (SSWUG.com) -Largest independent SQL Server help resource on the 'net'.


 

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