DataDirect SQL Server Driver vs. Microsoft SQL Server 2000 JDBC Driver

DataDirect Technologies provides an OEM version of its JDBC SQL Server driver to Microsoft, which Microsoft distributes free of charge. Customers often ask why they should choose to buy the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver from DataDirect Technologies when they can obtain the same driver free from Microsoft. The short answer is that the drivers are not the same. This product comparison explains how the drivers are different and presents the reasons why customers are better off buying the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver from DataDirect Technologies rather than relying on the Microsoft JDBC driver.

Versions Compared

This product comparison compares the DataDirect Connect for JDBC 3.5 SQL Server driver to the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3 driver.

Comparing Driver Features

The following list describes the differences between the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver and the Microsoft driver:

  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver fully supports both Microsoft SQL Server 7 and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 running on any Windows server (including Windows NT). In contrast, the Microsoft JDBC driver supports only Microsoft SQL Server 2000 running on Windows 2000 and Windows XP servers (but not on Windows NT servers).
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver is fully compliant with the JDBC 3.0 specification. The Microsoft JDBC driver only suports the JDBC 2.0 specification.
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver supports connecting to a Microsoft SQL Server server using either Windows Authentication or SQL Server Authentication. The Microsoft JDBC driver only supports connecting to Microsoft SQL Server using SQL Server Authentication.
  • Many performance enhancements have been made to the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver since Microsoft adopted the 2.2.x version of the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver.
  • Applications that use multiple open statements and manual transactions can use the SelectMethod=direct connection option with the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver. Using SelectMethod=direct can significantly improve performance and scalability because a server-side cursor is not created if the requested result set type is a forward-only result set. The Microsoft JDBC driver always requests a server-side cursor in this case.
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver supports the Blob and Clob APIs with image and text columns. The Microsoft JDBC driver provides no support for Blobs and Clobs.
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver provides advanced enterprise features such as:
    • Connection failover
    • Connection retry
    • Client-side load balancing
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver is shipped with an intuitive graphical Performance Tuning Wizard for optimal driver performance "out of the box." The wizard steps you through a series of questions about your application and its environment. Based on your answers, the wizard recommends the optimal performance settings for the driver.
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver includes DataDirect Test for JDBC for testing and debugging applications.
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver includes DataDirect Spy for JDBC for tracing JDBC activity.
  • The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver is certified for use with J2EE 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 application servers, passing the stringent Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) for J2EE. CTS certification from Sun Microsystems ensures that the driver is fully compliant with the JDBC API.
  • DataDirect provides highly focused, award-winning technical support.

Importance: Although a customer may assume they are getting the same JDBC driver free from Microsoft, the preceding list clearly illustrates that this is not the case.

JDBC 3.0 Support

The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver is compliant with the JDBC 3.0 specification. DataDirect Technologies ensures that its JDBC driver is current with all new releases of the JDBC API. The current version of the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver offers numerous advantages over the Microsoft driver, and it is likely that this gap will only widen over time.

JDBC 3.0 includes multiple features to help developers be productive:

  • Savepoints for better transaction control
  • Full read/write support for Clob/Blob data types
  • Support for multiple open result sets

JDBC 3.0 also includes key features, such as statement pooling, for building high-performance, robust applications. In addition, it includes configurable properties for connection pooling and simplified integration interfaces including the J2EE Connector Architecture Service Provider Interface (SPI).

The following features are just some of the JDBC 3.0 specification features that are supported by the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver:

  • Retrieval of auto-generated keys
  • Blob/Clob updates
  • PreparedStatement pooling
  • Multiple open result sets
  • Savepoints
  • New DatabaseMetaData methods
  • Tuneable connection pooling options

Extended Feature Support

In addition to the SQL Server and JDBC 3.0 features that the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver supports, it also supports the following extended features:

  • J2EE Connector Architecture SPI wrapper
  • Performance Tuning Wizard (for fine-tuning driver performance based on your application design and your environment)
  • DataDirect Test for JDBC (for testing and debugging applications)
  • DataDirect Spy for JDBC (for tracing JDBC activity)
  • DataDirect Connection Pool manager (for creating your own connection pooling implementations)

Read more about the JDBC 3.0 specification in "Important New Features in JDBC 3.0" on the DataDirect web site.

Windows Authentication for Secure Connections

The DataDirect Connect for JDBC SQL Server driver is the only JDBC driver on the market that supports Windows Authentication for Windows Active Directory domains while remaining a Pure Java Type 4 JDBC driver. DataDirect Technologies has implemented a Pure Java Windows Authentication mechanism in its DataDirect Connect for JDBC SQL Server driver without loading external shared libraries (DLLs on Windows).

The DataDirect Connect for JDBC SQL Server driver also provides a Windows-specific Windows Authentication mechanism for environments that do not have an Active Directory domain. This authentication mechanism, which is available on Windows platforms only, requires a DLL to be installed on the client with the driver. Windows-specific Authentication supports both the Kerberos and NTLM authentication protocols and is simpler to configure than the Pure Java mechanism.

Windows Authentication eliminates the need for users to log on separately to Microsoft SQL Server; the security credentials established for the user at logon time are used to authenticate the user when connecting to Microsoft SQL Server. Windows Authentication also is a more secure method for establishing a connection to Microsoft SQL Server.

Performance Enhancements

DataDirect Technologies continually strives to improve the performance of its JDBC drivers. Many performance enhancements have been made to the DataDirect Connect for JDBC SQL Server driver since the 2.2.x version was delivered to Microsoft. In most cases, these performance enhancements have not been incorporated into the version of the driver that Microsoft offers.

These performance enhancements include the following improved features:

  • Batch Inserts, Updates, and Deletes
  • Stored procedure execution
  • Forward-only cursors (fast forward-only cursor support with AUTO_FETCH and AUTO_CLOSE)
  • Static cursors (insensitive result sets)
  • Keyset Cursors (sensitive result sets)
  • Updateable result sets
  • Scalability, including multi-user, multi-threaded performance (performs up to 72% better than the Microsoft JDBC driver as measured by the SpecJAppServer benchmark)

DataDirect Connect for JDBC Software Developer's Kit (SDK)

Purchasing DataDirect Connect for JDBC is the only way to obtain the DataDirect Test for JDBC and DataDirect Spy for JDBC utilities, which work only with the DataDirect Technologies JDBC drivers. These utilities do not work with the Microsoft JDBC driver.

DataDirect Test for JDBC is a graphical, menu-driven component that helps developers debug JDBC applications. It works by displaying the results of all JDBC function calls with sample Java JDBC code (including comments). JDBCTest makes troubleshooting easy, shortening the application development cycle.

DataDirect Spy for JDBC is used for tracing calls in runtime applications. This utility passes calls issued by an application to the underlying DataDirect Technologies JDBC driver and logs detailed information about those calls. The results passed from the database to the application are also logged.

DataDirect Spy differs from DataDirect Test in that DataDirect Spy is used with applications to trace the JDBC calls made by that application, while DataDirect Test allows a developer to experiment with the JDBC API to develop JDBC applications.

Technical Support

DataDirect provides 7x24 technical support and has won the Omega NorthFace award for excellence in support services for four years in a row. The SupportLink Web site was recognized by the Association of Support Professionals as one of the Ten Best Web Support Sites in 2004.

Customers expect immediate assistance when they have questions or need to report a technical issue. DataDirect provides three methods to get assistance from a technical expert 7 days a week, 24 hours a day: toll-free phone number to reach us live, e-mail, and online case reporting. We had an overall Customer Satisfaction Rating of 96% in 2004. Our support resources have extensive backgrounds in supporting multiple databases and operating systems. They have over 100 years of combined experience with DataDirect products. Our award-winning SupportLink Web site includes an extensive online KnowledgeBase with over 3000 documents to assist customers with frequently asked questions, to offer configuration suggestions, and to provide solutions to known issues. DataDirect is a long-term member of TSANet, one of the largest multivendor support alliances in the high tech industry today. This exceptional service allows customers to reduce operating costs and realize value for their investment.

The total cost of ownership often is not reflected in the initial acquisition cost of software. It is reflected in the support, administration, and incurred downtime costs inherent within network architectures. Superior technical support is essential to reducing these costs, allowing applications and your business to operate uninterrupted. The lack of technical support is often the downfall of "free" drivers.

Summary

The DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver offers many distinct advantages over the free Microsoft JDBC driver, including:

  • Support for many JDBC 3.0 features, such as retrieval of auto-generated keys, support for Blob and Clob updates, and PreparedStatement pooling
  • Windows Authentication support for more secure connections
  • Advanced enterprise features, such as connection failover, connection retry, and client-side load balancing
  • Many performance enhancements, including an intuitive, graphical Performance Tuning Wizard to ensure optimal performance "out of the box"
  • Time-saving utilities for developing JDBC applications, such as DataDirect Test for JDBC and DataDirect Spy for JDBC

Investing in and deploying the right solution today saves you money in both the short and long term. Make sure that the product you select can support your future needs as well as current needs. DataDirect Connect for JDBC is the best solution on the market today for quality, reliability, performance, and for services such as technical support.