Front cover Migrating from Microsoft SQL Server to IBM Informix Develops a data and applications migration methodology Migrates step-by-step from SQL Server to IBM Informix Provides a variety of migration examples Whei-Jen Chen Chee Fong Koh Deen Murad Holger Kirstein Rakeshkumar Naik ibm.com/redbooks International Technical Support Organization Migrating from Microsoft SQL Server to IBM Informix July 2010 SG24-7847-00 Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Notices” on page xi. First Edition (July 2010) This edition applies to IBM Informix Version 11.5 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008. © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2010. All rights reserved. Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Notices . xi Trademarks . xii Preface . xiii The team who wrote this book . xiii Acknowledgements . xv Become a published author . xv Comments welcome. xvi Stay connected to IBM Redbooks . xvi Chapter 1. Introduction. 1 1.1 Migration considerations . 2 1.2 Informix position . 4 1.3 IBM Informix editions. 5 1.3.1 No-charge editions . 5 1.3.2 For-purchase editions . 6 1.4 Informix functionality and features. 9 1.4.1 Replication and high availability . 9 1.4.2 Performance . 11 1.4.3 Security . 12 1.4.4 Administration . 13 1.4.5 Warehouse . 14 1.4.6 Application development . 14 1.4.7 Extensibility . 15 Chapter 2. Architecture overview . 19 2.1 Process . 20 2.1.1 SQL Server . 20 2.1.2 Informix . 20 2.2 Memory architecture . 24 2.2.1 SQL Server . 24 2.2.2 Informix . 25 2.3 Disk I/O architecture . 29 2.3.1 SQL Server . 29 2.3.2 Informix . 30 2.4 Physical database structures . 31 2.4.1 SQL Server . 31 2.4.2 Informix . 32 2.5 Logical database structures . 34 © Copyright IBM Corp. 2010. All rights reserved. iii 2.5.1 SQL Server . 34 2.5.2 Informix . 35 2.6 Data dictionary and system catalog . 38 2.6.1 SQL Server . 38 2.6.2 Informix . 38 2.7 Transactional model . 39 2.7.1 SQL Server . 40 2.7.2 Informix . 40 2.8 Database server communications . 42 2.8.1 SQL Server . 42 2.8.2 Informix . 43 Chapter 3. Migration methodology . 47 3.1 An IBM migration methodology . 48 3.2 Preparing for the migration . 49 3.2.1 Performing the migration assessment. 49 3.2.2 Understanding and selecting migration tools . 50 3.2.3 Estimating the required effort . 51 3.2.4 Preparing the environment . 52 3.2.5 Receiving education about Informix . 53 3.3 Migrating . 53 3.3.1 Migrating and designing the database . 53 3.3.2 Calibrating the planned strategy . 54 3.3.3 Migrating applications . 55 3.4 Testing the migration. 56 3.4.1 Refreshing the migration . 56 3.4.2 Migrating the data . 56 3.4.3 Testing . 57 3.5 Implementing the new environment . 61 3.6 Related information resources . 61 3.6.1 IBM training . 61 3.6.2 IBM professional certification . 63 3.6.3 Information Management Software Services . 63 3.6.4 IBM Software Accelerated Value program . 64 3.6.5 Protect your software investment with Software Subscription and Support . 64 Chapter 4. SQL considerations . 67 4.1 DDL . 68 4.1.1 Database creation . 68 4.1.2 Tables . 71 4.1.3 Indexes . 91 4.1.4 Views. 98 iv Migrating from Microsoft SQL Server to IBM Informix 4.1.5 Schemas . 100 4.1.6 Sequences . 102 4.1.7 Synonyms . ..