FreeTDS Development Group

["Lowden, James K" <LowdenJK AT bernstein.com>]

> From: John Brandt Sr. [mailto:pgmr AT Experts.tzo.com]
> Sent: May 3, 2004 11:46 AM
> 
> I'm sorry if I got in on the back end of this conversation, 
> but am I to understand that someone has (or has attempted) 
> to port MS SQL server to linux?

Let me save Steve Kirkendall the trouble of answering that, so that one good 
deed may go unpunished.  

Steve didn't port Microsoft's server to Linux.  Neither is he running 
Microsoft's server on Linux.  Neither did he reproduce a Microsoft-like 
server on Linux, except for very small values of "reproduce".  

What he did was build on src/server in the FreeTDS distribution.  That code 
is the server-side complement to the client libraries: it accepts TDS 
connections and responds to certain TDS packets.  Steve added the ability to 
understand some rudimentary SELECT statements.  This lets him pass the 
contents of some data files back to ODBC clients by fooling them into 
thinking they're talking to a Microsoft server.  

I think it would be facinating to bolt the src/server code onto the front of 
another database server -- pick any one -- because in theory it would allow 
familar Sybase/Microsoft tool to be used with other backends.  That would be 
freeing to many developers.  It's also very different from what Steve 
undertook.  

Anyone interested in running a Microsoft-like server on Linux may wish to 
consider Sybase.  Version 11.9.2 is available for Linux at no charge.  

--jkl

-----------------------------------------
The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and 
confidential information and is intended only for the use of the person(s) 
named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent 
responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, any 
review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication is 
strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact 
the sender immediately by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original 
message. Please note that we do not accept account orders and/or instructions 
by e-mail, and therefore will not be responsible for carrying out such orders 
and/or instructions.
If you, as the intended recipient of this message, the purpose of which is to 
inform and update our clients, prospects and consultants of developments 
relating to our services and products, would not like to receive further 
e-mail correspondence from the sender, please "reply" to the sender 
indicating your wishes.  In the U.S.: 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, 
NY 10105.