dbForge Studio (Edge) vs. Precisely Assure MIMIX

This tool is useful for small and large IT departments and associated data analysts that perform direct database functions such as DBA tasks or extracting/importing data. Non-technical staff members would not benefit from this tool as much as the functions are detailed and technical. However, automation engineers will find this tool very open for automation, and can generate the scripting code for any of its functions.

Incentivized

MIMIX is clearly the best IBMi solution for most high availability and disaster recovery situations. It provides rock-solid replication and agile ability to switch quickly. In its earlier days, some organizations used it as a primary daily system backup method. With the advent of Ransomware, this is no longer advisable. The strength of MIMIX real-time replication becomes a weakness if IBMi data becomes infected. As in any real-time replication product, at that point, two systems are infected.

Incentivized

• Connection manager (we use it through ssh tunnels) works effortlessly.
• Great sync tools for both database schemas and data.
• Storing code snippets to be used when needed.
• Nice code suggestions while typing queries.
• Usually does very well with storing your session and opening all of your sql tabs when opening the apps next time.
• Does very well when executing large sql files (without opening the files into the application that is).
• Pretty good debugging help when a problem occurs in executing a query or a files with multiple queries.

Incentivized

• Redundancy - needs to be available at a moment's notice.
• Protection - the business would be greatly impacted, therefore protection of production systems is key to the business succeeding.
• Usability - needs to be user-friendly, easy to navigate and operate, as it will be required at any given time.

Incentivized

• The ability to parameterize searches more would be advantageous. For example, being able to specify to only look for certain columns, certain data type changes, etc.
• The output reports from dbForge are very plain and could contain more detail, and perhaps be structured more like a pivot table form Excel

Incentivized

• Possible false sense of security for ransomware attacks.

Incentivized

dbForge Studio (Edge) has a great UI and it's versatile, but it still has some glitches. Its multiple database support makes it possible to stick with only one UI to handle different RDBM systems, even though you have to redefine user credentials for each new connection (no copying/cloning feature for database connections). The Edit View and diagramming features also could be improved.

MIMIX is software built for availability. By its nature it is must be available. As long as the underlying system and communication network are available MIMIX is working. And if there are failures in either of those, MIMIX is designed to allow for a quick and resilient recovery once underly systems or communications are restored

Incentivized

I have never seen MIMIX itself be a performance bottleneck. However it is important to consider the network in overall performance of any remotely replicated systems. MIMIX can only replicate as fast as the network allows. But a strong capability of MIMIX is its ability to "buffer" its replication, so it can be sent without error as the network allows

Incentivized

Although experience here is limited, as only one question has been asked and answered promptly, the registration and licensing process was very smooth and professional. There are forums online that discuss dbForge issues, as well as a Facts and Questions section on dbForge's website, so product support does seem to exist if needed.

Incentivized

Support is available and efficient. Response time is good and likelyhood of a quick resolutiion is high. However the mature solid product and proactive management tools, fortunately make support requirements relatively rare. The support for version upgrades is also strong, but again the basic upgrade process is usually straightforward and well documented.

Incentivized

Before choosing dbForge Studio I evaluated at least a dozen tools, especially on the Visual Query Builder function. For now, I have identified only one product that has a better Visual Query Builder than dbForge Studio. This other product also manages UNIONs, while dbStudio still doesn't do it visually. However, the better alternative product is enormously slower in operations and less feature-rich than DbForge Studio

We used MIMIX for its role for iSeries high availability. We used Double Take by Vision Solutions for our production Windows environment. MIMIX is designed for iSeries, and Double Take was designed for Windows. We had VMware virtual environment, running multiple VMs for production ERP Lawson M3, now Infor. Both MIMIX and Double Take played the role well for what needed to be done. Without either MIMIX or DoubleTake, the business would have been impacted.

Incentivized

MIMIX works to its intended functionality. It provides real time data replication across multiple partitions and systems as defined. I have never witnessed any problems with MIMIX in scaling to larger systems or adding new data groups. In conjunction with the inherent scalability of IBMi scalability and configuration flexibillity are rather quick and easy.

Incentivized

• Saved a TON of time when looking at massive amounts of parent/child data by allowing us to just use the master-detail browser.
• Very little training time needed for employees that are already used to using SQL Management Studio. This is a proper Windows UI application.
• Very cost effective to purchase the standard edition for every employee that needs it, but the free edition does most of what they need too!

Incentivized

• MIMIX had a positive impact, as the organization has had to rely upon the unplanned switch.
• MIMIX definite must if organization is running i Series, and business needs are 24/7.
• Without MIMIX in place, the downtime impact to the business would have been great.

Incentivized