DbVisualizer vs. Precisely Assure MIMIX

Whenever you have to access data sources from more than one database engine provider, you should consider using DbVisualizer for the task. Switching between multiples IDE consumes time and resources (memory), and you also need to learn menus, shortcuts, etc., for each IDE, while using DbVisualizer allows you to work consistently no matter which database engine you are connecting. You can use it to simply navigate through data structures, write SQL sentences or even create new tables and views, develop stored procedures, etc.

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

• Timed queries that add their result to the result grid for every execution are helpful. Creation of graphs also extremely helpful.
• Query history and auto-recover feature makes sure we don't lose our queries.
• Actions like exporting grids to Excel or other tools is a very easy task.

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

• does not handle lost connections well (specially after stopping a running query) (mysql). eg. after hitting stop, and then hitting run again, it can sometimes look like its running the query, but it isn't actually!
• filtering on databases window is clunky (why the need for filtering certain object types at a time? just filter everything, google style)
• altering table, adding columns (NOT to the end of the table's columns, but earlier) is not supported (mysql) even though the db supports it (alter table add column BEFORE..)

Incentivized

• Possible false sense of security for ransomware attacks.

Incentivized

We never had problems with it. It is able to connect to all data sources (Oracle, Informix, DB2, SQL Server) that we currently use.

Incentivized

Menus are simple and well organized. You can use the same shortcuts no matter which database engine you are connecting to. Configuration of data source connections is simple while keeping all required options.

Incentivized

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

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

DbVisualizer provides a good value when compared against other 3rd party products with similar features as well as products with similar functionality made by the database vendors. The user interface is good and user friendly / intuitive and easy to learn. It doesn't take too long for an experienced DBA / database developer to come up to speed.

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

• The institution is of the governmental type, therefore we do not measure the commercial impact of using this tool
• The impact on the benefit of the population is always positive with tools that streamline our processes, and DbVisualizer is one of the best

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