DB Optimizer review from dadbm.com

[Kirill]

I tested briefly a free version of DB Optimizer 2.5.1. Unfortunately I
could not see all of its features as some of them are available only
in the retail version. Nevertheless I have to admit I like the
software very much.

See the general product overview here:
http://www.dadbm.com/2010/10/db-optimizer-database-software-review/

<b>General Issues</b>

1) When I connect to the DB that is down, the tool response is very
long. It seems hanging and I can not stop it connecting to the DB.
Only in a few minutes ( that is too long ) I get the following pop-up
window with an Error connecting to: DB (see file DB-
Optimizer_error1.JPG)

2) When I try to connect to the database first time clicking on
Database Objects - I get an Error Connection failed (see file DB-
Optimizer_error2.JPG)

Workaround: I go to the DB instance properties, Push <Test
connection>, then <Apply> => then I can connect without any errors.

<b>SQL Profiling</b>

- You can not run a few profiling sessions in parallel for different
DBs

- In SQL Tab a Parsing user ID column is not useful -> better
username.

- In Active Session graph it would be nice to have similar OEM
functionality when the corresponding wait event is high-lighted once
you put a mouse cursor over the appropriate wait event.

- Wiki Context help with wait events do not work properly. You are
redirected always to the WIKI’s root page rather than the wait event
itself.

- MS SQL Server 2000 / 2005 – SQL profiling is not supported / not
working (maybe due to a free version). What about Sybase ???

<b>SQL Tuning</b>

- Analysis Tab: Ratio / Counts button is a great feature but you
normally do not use it on huge tables or on production environment.
Furthermore it’s not clear if you ONLY calculate counts and place them
on the ER diagram or you also update the actual table stats in the
database (in the popup window it’s better to state that no database
stats updated upon this operation).

Additionally, it would be great to show on ER diagram counts from the
acutal table stats (maybe in different colour) and if I choose to
recount them using the tool button, then you can replace the figures
or even place them alongside to see the comparison of existing table
stats and the real numbers (that would be unbeatable product feature).

<b>SQL IDE</b>

- In general, it’s very week interface and features
- to add more quick buttons (close to execute, commit etc buttons) for
most used features like “Explain plan” and ”Formatting”
- to add lower-upper case switching functionality with a shortcut (I
use it very often for switching case in SQL literals)

<b>Database Objects tree</b>

- week interface
- not a lot you can do with it – just information.
- would be great to double click on an object, that should open all
the features in the right window including the ability to see the
table data and change all the object properties.

at this point the the product evaluation time was expired … :)

-- Kirill Loifman, <a href="http://dadbm.com">dadbm.com</a> --