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Exactly what are the benefits from an SQL version when have a large database site? Faster seaches? What else?
You get faster builds, faster searches, better admin response, etc.
The flatfile version of Links becomes unusable as the number of links increases. Every server has different limits, but generally once you reach between five to ten thousand links, the server either kills the CGI scripts, or the response time gets too slow. Links SQL addresses this by allowing your directory to grow to much higher volumes.
Again, that should be your only factor in deciding between Links 2 and Links SQL. If you run a small to medium size directory, stick with Links 2, there will be no noticeable advantadge to using Links SQL.
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Is there a difference between the older Links SQL version with the latest release?
Yes, the new one is a complete rewrite of the Links internals. The SQL Add on just added an sql search to the program, but all the links were still stored in a text file. Links SQL now works completely off of an SQL database, and does not use an text files.
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It appears that the new one only will work on MySQL. Alex did mentioned that the new SQL release will support ALL SQL servers a couple of months back, but that's not the case with today's release.
I was not able to support mSQL and still keep the program efficent as mSQL does not support a lot of key features. The program works very well with mysql, and will probably work well with other real database servers like Oracle, MS-SQL, etc, but they have to be tested. There shouldn't be much to change in order to get them to work, but I haven't had a chance yet. For the more technical of you, the program use DBI/DBI with almost all ANSI SQL calls, so it should work without change on other SQL servers.
I know the price may put it out of reach of some, but please realise that it is meant for large directories only. If your directory doesn't have > 10,000 links in it, then I would not recommend it to you.
If you have managed to put together such a large directory, then I think you have something really valuable to Internet visitors, and it shouldn't be too difficult to recoup your costs.
I'll be putting up some more information about it in the next week or two (dedicated forum, html page, sample, etc). In the meantime if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Cheers,
Alex