PostgreSQL Database (open source) with Windchill PDMLink. Benchmarks all point to PostgreSQL.

[patrick.chin1]

I would like to know if anyone has tried to have Windchill PDMLink work with PostgreSQL Database. According to these benchmarks:

One with SQL Server 5 and MySQL:

http://www.postgresonline.com/journal/archives/51-Cross-Compare-of-SQL-Server,-MySQL,-and-PostgreSQL.html

PostgreSQL versus MS SQL Server and PostgreSQL versus Oracle at the following sites:

http://www.redhat.com/pdf/rhel/bmsql-postgres-sqlsrvr-v1.0-1.pdf

http://diznix.com/dizwell/archives/category/postgres

PostgreSQL out performs all current databases withthe exception ofproducing a 5 million record report againstOracle. I like the benchmark with 2 Intel Quad Core Xeon, 48 GIG of ram which closely resemble my Oracle Database. It definitely proves that the combination of Red Hat Linux and PostgreSQL looks really good compared to Windows 2008 and SQL Server Enterprise with identical hardware.

I've started creating the database and now moving to the user schemas. If this works, like RedHat Linux, this would savecost on licensing and maintenance on running Windchill on databases. Thus, more money can be alocated to the Windchill Solution and implementation.

Having fun,

Patrick

[GaryMansell]

I like this - PostgreSQL is an extremely robust and high performing Open Source enterprise DB Solution that is free to use for companies, it would be fantastic if PTC Supported it as a backend DB for Windchill.

I am interested to know how you got on too - I cannot imagine that it would run Windchill OOTB as I would have thought Windhchill would need to be coded for it.

Imagine how much simpler it would make Windchill virtualisation and multiple DEV/TEST environments... I have to run Oracle on separate Physical Boxes to prevent running into licensing issues on my HA VMware Environment which I use to host all my other Windchill Servers - it's bloomin' frustrating !! Things like remote failover DR sites become far cheaper for everyone to consider.

I would have thought it in PTC's interest financially too - they would immediately get loads more instances of Windchill due to removing the Oracle/MS SQL Tax on their product.

Rgds

Gary

[BjoernRueegg]

I'm not sure, but the Windchill 11 db directory also contains the scripts of PostgreSQL... Perhaps PTC ist testing it in the background.

[jessh]

Windchill's object-relational-mapping supports PostgreSQL at this point.

That said, this has only been fully tested, etc, and thus is only supported in "offline" deployments of InService, where this portion of Windchill code is also used.

If full, official Windchill support of PostgreSQL is a priority then I'd suggest raising this enhancement request via all the usual channels.

[PatrickChin]

Hi Jessh,

We can only raise enhancement request via PTC Community now.  We are trying to save money to spend it on more needed PTC solutions and products.

[PatrickChin]

I just had a "fun" meeting with oracle with regard of their licensing rules to physical cores and not virtual cores.  The most ridiculous licensing rule states for cost of physical core starting at 2 or 4 cores.  I asked them to provide a single socket dual or quad core available and supported today by Intel or AMD.  Of coarse they could not.  Instead, Oracle pressures me to purchase an Oracle physical supported hardware that has an AMD EPYC 32 core single socket with Oracle Linux VM licenses, so I can run a VM that has 4 cores.  The main reason I would require to Oracle or PostgreSQL is to have VARCHAR sizes more than 4000 for Windchill.  Also, we are a nuclear design company so we cannot use the cloud.  This is why we would like to please ask PTC for Windchill to be supported on PostgreSQL rather than spending stupid amounts of money that its not needed.  We want to effectively invest in our products and during these tough times.  We have to be frugal with our monies and budget and not waste it.

[MB_7350927]

To add to @PatrickChin's point; at the other end of the scale we probably need Windchill as a release system but at 3 users are too small for a Windchill+ SAAS type setup.

Cost of a commercial SQL database and associated support is a bit of a barrier to implementation. PostgreSQL would not save on the support but at least we aren't buying a certain person a new racing yacht every year.