What's new? > New Database Engine

This is a preliminary document and will be regularly changed and updated.
last update: Friday, August 18, 2023, 6:07 PM

Starting in 2019, ZeeBORN introduces a new database engine to be used by all ZeeBORN software. The new database engine is based on MariaDB V10.4 with slight modifications related to the setup and management of the database server.

As soon as the new version of the MariaDB based software will be released, ZeeBORN will also offer services for migrating existing software installations based on Advantage Database Server to the new ZeeBORN Database Engine.

Some important facts about the new database engine:

1.Unlike the Advantage Database Server the new database engine doesn't require the purchase of a dedicated license. In result the ZeeBORN Database Engine is made available for free.

2.The new database engine doesn't have a user or connection limit - as it was and still is already the case with the ZeeBORN software itself.

3.The new database engine can be installed on as many servers as required. This also includes server installations used for creating test and training environments.

4.ZeeBORN will deliver a database engine setup with each release of new software versions.

5.The ZeeBORN database engine can be used in parallel with other database engines on the same server. This also includes parallel instances of already running MariaDB or MySQL database servers. But the ZeeBORN software requires an exclusive instance of it's own database engine installation.

6.Popular management tools and database interfaces for MariaDB/MySQL can also be used with the ZeeBORN database engine.

Breaking Changes

1.The new database server requires a 64bit operating system. 32bit systems are no longer supported (doesn't apply to the client software).

2.Having a shared network folder on the server is now an optional but still recommended feature and no longer has to be the same server as the database server.

3.All files created by the software (exported PDF-files, data replication files etc.) will be created in the user's local Documents folder. A new environment variable %ZeeBORNShared% points to this folder. If desired, the Administrator can configure this setting to point to a shared folder on a server.

4.The standalone program version (ZeeBORN on USB stick) is no longer supported.

5.There is no longer a fall back to a local database engine if the database server service isn't running or can't be contacted via network.

Differences between MariaDB and ZeeBORN Database Engine

1.While the ZeeBORN Database Engine is almost identical to MariaDB, the ZeeBORN Database Engine is delivered with a reduced tool set and with less plug-ins and other support files. It's streamlined to the minimum amount of files required for installing and operating the database engine (installation program size reduced from approx. 70 MByte to 8 MByte).

2.The ZeeBORN Database Engine can be installed only by using the DBEngineSetup.exe.

3.The ZeeBORN Database Engine comes fully pre-configured with optimum settings for the operation of ZeeBORN applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to upgrade to the new database engine now?

A: No. ZeeBORN of course also still provides support for existing Advantage Database Server based installations of the ZeeBORN software. While the implementation of new features and changes was put on hold starting January 2019, ZeeBORN still provides new releases for the Advantage Database Server based software versions for fixing reported errors. New features will be released only in software versions based on the new database engine.

Q: Do I have to buy new licenses for the database server?

A: No, the new database engine doesn't require the purchase of licenses.

Q: Can I use a Linux server for operating the database?

A: Yes this is supported but requires assistance by our support team. Using the database on Linux distributions like Ubuntu or even on a RaspberryPi is part of our internal tests. ZeeBORN won't provide a dedicated setup program for the database engine but will instead provide assistance with using the available package managers for installing MariaDB and applying the necessary configuration updates.
Actually the ZeeBORN software can be used with any server platform/operating system that supports installing MariaDB.

Q: Does the new database server have new hardware requirements?

A: No, you can use the same hardware as before. It's also possible to install the new database server on the same server where the Advantage Database Server is installed? If you install the new database server on the same machine where the Advantage Database Server is installed, you must consider that all data will be stored twice on the server. Before migrating to the new database engine you'll need to make sure that the harddisk has a free space + some reserve as the space currently occupied by the data managed by the Advantage Database Server (approx. the size of the %ZeeBORNData% folder).

Q: Do I have to perform the migration in the office and on all vessels at the same time?

A: No. First, the office should be migrated to the new database server. The data replication format used for synchronizing data between the office and vessels is identical to the format used in previous software versions. The migration on the vessels can be executed at any time after migrating the office database server.

Q; As the new system is MariaDB/MySQL based, can I integrate the database with other systems?

A: Yes. The database has a dedicated read-only user account that can be used for accessing the data in the database via MariaDB/MySQL-compatible 3rd party solutions. The credentials for this user account will be made available to the customer's administrator via ZeeBORN support.

Q: When will the new version be released?
A: Short answer: "Soon". Long answer: The change of the database engine requires the recreation of some parts of the ZeeBORN software. Due to these changes all parts of the software must go again through a full test for identifying potential incompatibilities or performance problems. While the first test release is already available on our test server we plan to release the upgrade later this year. The roll out to our customers will be done in stages. First all customers who use the ZeeBORN main modules without further customization will receive the upgrade. All customers who use specialized interfaces to external systems will receive the upgrade later.