On common tools for databases - The case for a client-based index advisor

Modern enterprises often deploy multiple databases from different vendors. Managing a heterogeneous mix of databases is a very challenging exercise. To help the DBA tackle this complex administrative task, major database vendors have provided many autonomic tools. The tools help automate common management tasks and even help in performance tuning. However, the DBA now has to face the complexity of dealing with a variety of different tools for different tasks, each with different interfaces and capabilities. The application developer also suffers from a similar problem when trying to use different tools that help him develop applications for different databases. Clearly, there is a need for a common interface to manage heterogeneous databases and develop enterprise class applications for them. To address this need, we argue for a client-based approach to developing database tools. In particular, we take the case of an index advisor (a tool provided by all the three big database vendors) and show that a client-based approach can a) provide a uniform interface for the DBA or the application developer to use across all the database deployments, b) provide flexibility in the number and kinds of scenarios it can be used, and finally c) reduce the total cost of ownership for the enterprise.