Sandy, I appreciate your very reasoned, documented, and thought-out information on this point. One of the only times I see a SQL database as a real advantage is in a scenario like we have. We have to IMail servers that are clustered in an active/passive cluster using Legato's clustering software. IMail and Declude are both installed on a virtual drive on our storage area network (SAN) that is connected to the two front-end IMail systems via redundant fiber. We use a SQL database (with SQL actually running in a separate active/passive Legato cluster), which is also on the SAN, to store all of the IMail account information. In this configuration we have true fail-over if either our primary IMail server or SQL server should fail. In our tests it only takes a few minutes to fully fail-over all of the VIP to the backup IMail server and we are fully back in business.
Without any other extenuating requirements to have the user database in a SQL database (like billing software or some other integration requirements), I would have to agree with your assessment that the registry is a better, more efficient, solution for IMail then is a SQL database. Thanks again for you well supported and documented feedback in this regard. Bill -----Original Message----- From: Sanford Whiteman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 2:21 PM To: Chris Terrebonne Subject: Re[6]: [IMail Forum] Poll re: Interest in SQL/Registry hybrid solution All, I would like to keep--well, regain--the peace regarding this issue. Laboratory benchmarks suggest that the Registry's higher performance does not falter under extreme load, while some people's experience suggests that there is a breaking point beyond which the gap narrows, or perhaps even swings in favor of SQL Server. Only outside testing can answer this question in a fashion acceptable to all on this list. To that end, we will be offering a free unlimited license and a $500 reward to the first person who can prove that there is a number of users or domains, or bandwidth volume, at which the performance and reliability of the Imail Registry database is outstripped by Imail ODBC databases using Microsoft SQL Server 7 or 2000. The exact same Imail "client" hardware that is used to conduct the client/server ODBC benchmark must be used to conduct the Registry benchmark, the exact same Imail service load (HTTP, SMTP, POP3, IMAP4) must be applied, and there will be minimum hardware and software requirements based on contemporary best practices for mail server sizing. The challenge will only be open to users of Imail versions through 7.06 (i.e. it will expire when the next version of Imail is released). Regarding development and the details of the challenge (the above is not to be considered a hard and fast invitation), we're beginning work on our GUI and installation routine and continuing internal testing and refinements to our code. We expect to have something out for public beta within 2 1/2 weeks. Thanks to all for their support and creative criticism. Regards, Sandy Please visit http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html to be removed from this list. An Archive of this list is available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ Please visit the Knowledge Base for answers to frequently asked questions: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/ Please visit http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html to be removed from this list. An Archive of this list is available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/ Please visit the Knowledge Base for answers to frequently asked questions: http://www.ipswitch.com/support/IMail/
