IBM Informix is a database server that focuses on relational database management. Review the basics of IBM Informix and how it stacks up against competitors.
Relational database management systems help companies in almost every industry harness and tap into the power of the information they gather, store, manage and analyze for business operations. One of the most powerful RDBMS options available today is Informix by IBM, a brand with a proven track record of stability and innovation.
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In this review of IBM Informix, we’ll discuss its key features, pros and cons, and how much it costs. We’ll also cover some of the top alternatives to IBM Informix.
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Informix is a robust RDBMS acquired by IBM from Informix Corporation in 2001. It is a secure embeddable database that facilitates the use of Internet of Things and online transaction processing applications with high transaction rates supporting non-SQL data types. Informix works well for companies of all sizes.
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Informix can handle traditional relational, object-relational and dimensional databases. Its data replication features allow you to synchronize data among heterogeneous servers and distribute SQL statements and files between servers.
Informix consists of several related products:
The Informix database server uses a Virtual-Table Interface, a DataBlade API, access-method-specific SQL extensions and API libraries to facilitate the development of user-defined access methods.
The free developer edition can be found here, while the main Informix product download page can be found here.
Although the basic developer version of Informix is free, the non-cloud versions of Informix require interested buyers to contact IBM for pricing. The cloud version has a cost structure based on environmental size:
The Small plan for IBM Informix on Cloud is $1,250 and is best for operations that focus on development, customization and functional testing.
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The Medium plan for IBM Informix on Cloud is $2,250 and also works well for operations that focus on development, customization and functional testing.
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The Large plan for IBM Informix on Cloud is $4,000. It works best for operations that focus on production and/or pre-production.
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The Extra Large plan for IBM Informix on Cloud is $8,000. It is primarily suited for production operations.
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IBM Informix competitors in the RDBMS space include Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MariaDB, MySQL, IBM DB2 and MongoDB. While open source solutions are commonly used, Microsoft SQL Server and MongoDB are IBM Informix’s most equivalent competitors in this space.
Detractors of IBM Informix have described a lack of development resources, impacted efficiency with remote databases and poor public integration with open source software. Many of these same companies also struggle to find data professionals with previous Informix experience and skills.
That being said, most customer reviews illustrate a favorable view of Informix. It seems Informix appeals to a niche audience with its highly specific product offerings, whereas general database needs may be more sufficiently met by other competitors.
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Scott Matteson is a 30 year senior systems administrator with experience in Windows, Linux and VMWare, and an 11 year technical writer who also performs consulting work for small organizations. He resides in the Greater Boston area with his family and pets.
