Why do you need database administration tools?

Judging from our experience as a hosting provider and cumulative hosting experience we can state that managing a database is one of the utmost important tasks in the administration of the server. If you’re not a super experienced fella who can tweak it straight from the command line or terminal it is highly advisable to choose something from the net that offers various software for Database Administration. 

Why is it better? Simply because most of the commands are packed in tight UI so you can automate it straight from the browser including such tasks as looking up for rows or columns, finding or replacing certain information, or filer the information in a specific way. Of course, there are many other use cases here, we have just covered the tip of the iceberg. Jump in to learn what the market has to offer for those who need Database Administration.

phpMyAdmin

Developed for the most popular OSes out there, such as Linux and its various distros, Mac and Windows, phpMyAdmin is completely free thanks to being open source.

Created on September 9, 1988, it has set its roots since the beginning of the internet which made it a standard duo with MySQL. By offering a user-friendly interface and the ability to be compatible with almost any OS on the market it quickly became one of the most favorable choices for the devs out there. Most of the web panels come with phpMyAdmin pre-installed by default

Advantages:

• Export data in various formats
• Ability to manage multiple servers
• Flawless performance
• Option to search through the global database
• Low resource consumption

Disadvantages:

• Slightly complicated for newbies. 

MySQL WorkBench

MySQL WorkBench is also compatible with all major platforms such as Windows, Mac, or various distros of Linux. Basically, it is free but if you need advanced features you can buy them from Oracle, but beware of the prices there are pretty high there.

MySQL Workbench is initially designed for more experienced administrators which means that you can find everything you need there. It has converted probably all of the possible SQL tasks into one GUI. Extremely powerful administration utility for MySQL queries. Same as phpMyAdmin it allows to see the database health and make various tweaks to the configuration of SQL servers. But sometimes too much is too much which can became quite overwhelming.

Advantages:

• Too many features
• Ability to execute every command of SQL using a graphical user interface.

Disadvantages:

• Too many features
• There is rumour that it can be a little bit slower than other solutions on the market, though we cannot state the same.
• Hardware and resource-intensive.

SQL Server Management Studio

Being a Microsoft Windows software it is limited strictly to Windows platform. Well, what you have expected? It was built specifically for Microsoft SQL Server. Possibly the best solution on the market if you wish to administer Windows Server Database. 

It is actually free but you are still required to have a license for the Windows copy in order for it to launch. 

Advantages:

• Built specifically for Microsoft Windows Server
• Has the same features as the previous contestants

Disadvantages: 

• If you are looking for DB tool for Linux then it is not a fit for you
• Requires to have a Windows Server Licence

ManageEngine Applications Manager

If you want some kind of alternative for SQL Server Management Studio then ManageEngine Applications Manager might do the trick. Built exclusively for Microsoft SQL it offers a lot of stuff such as the ability to build KPI which you can track in real-time and deep information on the queries that need to be optimized and causing latency on the server. A few prominent features are customizable reports and dashboards.

Advantages:

• Push notifications for mobile devices and SMS. 
• Great features for analytics on your DB to see where it might have bottlenecks.
• Ability to automate certain tasks.
• Compatible with clouds.

Disadvantages:

• Pricey
• Complex UI
• Difficult to update due to lack of documentation

DbSchema

Great tool for managing your database. It has the ability to manage not only SQL but NoSQL and Cloud Database as well. With it, you can easily design and interact with your database and quickly provision and deploy it on several databases on multiple instances. It is a paid software but you can have a 15 day trial to check it for yourself.

Advantages:

• SQL Editor with auto-completion, similar to Emmet
• Possibility to generate migration scripts.
• Intuitive design
• CSV and SQL Editors
• Interactive Diagrams
• Perfect for visualization of your database.

Disadvantages:

• A 15-day trial gives you quite limited options to choose from, so it is better to buy a monthly plan.
• The documentation is a little bit outdated.

Conclusion

There are a lot of tools out there, we just covered the most prominent ones in our case. If you are looking for a dedicated server with proper administration or managed services, feel free to contact the BlueServer team via LiveChat. We are available 24/7/365 and would be glad to help you to choose the best server.