Introduction Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) and Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) areboth SQL based client/server relational database management systems used to supportinformation systems. The two products have a common heritage because, until version 4.2, Microsoft simplylicensed Sybase’s database and so they were in fact two marketing identities for thesame product 1 . Since that point however, they have diverged. Microsoft have produced versions 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 of Microsoft SQL Server, while Sybase haveproduced versions 4.8, 4.9, System 10 and System 11 of SQL Server and versions 11.5and 11.9 of SQL Server’s descendent, Adaptive Server Enterprise. Users of Microsoft SQL Server may need to migrate applications to Adaptive ServerEnterprise. Other customers may need to ensure that their applications are easilyportable between the two products. Luckily, the unique history of these two productsmakes such conversion and portability relatively straightforward.

This white paper is primarily intended to assist with the application migration processfrom MSSQL to ASE. By migration, in this context, we mean the process of changingan application so that it uses Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise , rather than MicrosoftSQL Server, as its underlying database management system. It is also intended to beof assistance to those software developers needing to develop applications that can beeasily migrated between the products. The white paper presents an overview of the differences between the two products,from the point of view of an application developer or DBA, and then describes asystematic process for performing a migration from MSSQL to ASE. A series ofchecklists are also provided that should assist with migration planning and the designof applications that are portable between MSSQL and ASE