Re: XP Home vs Xp Pro with Oracle Database

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Bruce Chambers (bruce_a_chambers_at_h0tmail.com)
Date: 10/02/04 

Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2004 09:53:43 -0600

aofsocal wrote:
> Just a quick question (I hope...)
> I am a I.S. student studying database design and implementation.
> With
> my current current class, the textbook included a basic version of
> Oracle database version 9. something or other along with table,
> report and form software. The packaging indicates that XP Pro is
> required rather than the Home version I am currently using.
>
> From the various posts here, it seems that there are only small
> differences between the Home and Pro versions. Would the Pro ugrade
> really be required. Is it really worth the expense to purchase the
> upgrade? I would like to be able to get acclimated with Oracle
> functionality, etc. but don't want to do so if it is too costly.
>
> Thanks for your advise.

    It's true that WinXP Home and WinXP Pro are very much alike as far
as software compatibility usually goes. However, in the case of using
an Oracle database and application, you probably would find it easier
to use WinXP Pro. Oracle databases were originally designed for use
on large servers running highly securable non-Windows operating
systems, such as AIX and Unix. In the process of porting them to
Windows, Oracle didn't pay a whole lot of attention, in my opinion, to
the way Window's security model differs. So you're likely to end up
with the Oracle database applications' wanting to write log files in
inappropriate places like six layers (folders/sub-folders) deep under
Program Files. This means that, in many cases, you're going to have
to grant elevated permissions to the users of those Oracle
applications in places where it would not normally be done. WinXP
Pro's more granular control of security makes doing so much easier
than does WinXP Home.

    Additionally, as you are an I.S. student, you really should be
using WinXP Pro anyway, because security is a critically important
factor that you must learn to properly implement. WinXP Home just
won't give you the same operating environment as you'll eventually be
using in the real world, once you graduate. 

-- 
Bruce Chambers
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