Edmund Goppelt on Wed, 9 Apr 2003 10:47:11 -0400


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[PLUG] Can Open Source Replace Oracle?


Hi Pluggers.  I am asking you computer experts out there to lend me a
hand by answering a few questions.  

I'd like Philadelphians to be able to look up land ownership records.
To that end, I asked the City of Philadelphia to provide me with land
ownership records, deeds, mortgages, etc. on CD so that I can post
them on my website, Hallwatch.org.  The City is not cooperating,
citing cost as a reason.

Read more about my open records battles here:

http://www.hallwatch.org/rtkasuits/news/1049727665133

and here:

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/5593930.htm

It turns out the City already has a web site that offers this
information.  For three years, a group of 50 private companies have
been able to look at deed images and related info. at no cost, by
going here:

http://philadox.phila.gov

When City Council asked the Records Commissioner why she couldn't make
the service available to everyone, she said:

1. Doing so would overburden the City's Internet connection.

2. Their license with Oracle Corporation restricted them to 50 named
users (i.e., not simultaneous users, but the same 50 people).

What do you think of the Commissioner's reasoning?  First, are these
real obstacles.  If yes, how substantial are these obstacles?  What
can the City do to get around them and how much would it cost?

I asked her recently why she didn't just ditch Oracle and use
PostgreSQL or MySQL.  Her response: "You can run free software on one
little home computer, but we can't.  The demands of our Dept. are too
great."  For the record, Hallwatch runs MySQL and Zope on an 800 Mhz
Celeron, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB HD off of a shared T-1 connection.

Each month the Dept. scans about 20,000 deed images and related index
information such as buyer, seller info., recording date, etc. which
are then stored in a SQL database.  The Dept. has 3 or 4 public
computers where the public can look at deed records, and an unknown
number of staff computers.

Is she correct, in your view?  Would PostgreSQL or other Open Source
database not be up to the job?  In your opinion, what hardware
configuration does this application require?

Do you know of any government entities that are using one of the Open
Source databases?

Unless I hear from you otherwise, I will assume that it is ok to show
your comments to the Commissioner or other City officials.

Thanks for helping advance the cause of good government in the City.
We really need your help!

-- 

Ed Goppelt, Webmaster
http://www.hallwatch.org
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