Maintaining a cross-platform database environment has been common for twenty years or more. For all kinds of business or technical reasons, companies leverage different database types including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2 LUW, SAP Sybase, and open-source options like MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL.
What all of these databases have in common is that they are all relational databases. The information is structured (schema), tabular, and very organized. Data redundancy can be minimized. All of these database types use Structured Query Language (SQL). SQL is widely supported and universally understood.
Though Non-Relational databases have also been around for some time, an increase in popularity spun up the 'NoSQL' name meaning 'Not only SQL', (and point out that it may also support SQL-based query languages). These databases allow for non-structured data (like video, social media data...or blog post content!) to be stored and accessed. In addition, developer accessibility is improved having API alternatives to query the databases without intimate knowledge of database structures. Fun fact: The Foglight repository used to be (v. 4) built on a non-relational system!
Types of NoSQL databases include (though not limited to) Key-value (Cassandra), and Document database (MongoDB). With both the formats and volumes of data increasing (Big Data), so too did the need for the databases that can hold and access those types of data efficiently.
Though the title of this blog may have given it away, Quest's database monitoring solution, Foglight, can monitor all of them (mentioned in this blog)....and, there are plans to add support for more NoSQL databases.
Foglight provides the advantage of keeping an eye on multiple database types using the single monitoring platform and web-based interface. Users can familiarize themselves with common navigation and workflows across the various DBMSs. The Foglight architecture uses 'cartridges'. In this way, database types can be added if and as needed. Foglight can support environments as they grow or change.
Keep an eye out for more blogs with the focus on monitoring particular database platforms. Follow this link to read a blog specific to PostgreSQL.
https://www.quest.com/community/b/en/posts/monitor-postgres-post-haste-with-foglight#
For more information, or to request a trial, visit the product page: Foglight database monitoring
