[MarkeyD]

How different is MySql or PostgreSQL from MS SQL?

Depending on how extensively you use them, pretty different. It's not just the data storage, it's the syntax for views, stored procedures, triggers, user defined functions (if supported). Lots of work required for the migration. Then there is the driver issue, not all are fully implemented. Been there, done that.

[Dead Corpse]

From what I’ve seen, the front end is different... The backend? Not so much.

[TChris]

> How different is MySql or PostgreSQL from MS SQL?

Depending on how extensively you use them, pretty different. It's not just the data storage, it's the syntax for views, stored procedures, triggers, user defined functions (if supported). Lots of work required for the migration. Then there is the driver issue, not all are fully implemented. Been there, done that.

Don't forget Firebird SQL. It's my personal favorite.

The driver selection is very good. (ODBC, JDBC, .Net, Delphi/C++ Builder, Perl, Python, Ruby, etc.) Plus, it's multi-platform. There are 32-bit Windows, 64-bit Windows, Linux 32 and 64-bit, Mac OSX and Solaris binaries available.