Using SQL Anywhere database servers

SQL Anywhere provides two versions of the database server:

The personal database server This executable does not support client/server communications across a network. Although the personal database server is provided for single-user, same-computer use—for example, as an embedded database server—it is also useful for development work.
On Windows operating systems, except Windows Mobile, the name of the personal server executable is dbeng12.exe. On Unix operating systems its name is dbeng12. Only the network server is supported on Windows Mobile.
The network database server This executable supports client/server communications across a network, and is intended for multi-user use.
On Windows operating systems, including Windows Mobile, the name of the network server executable is dbsrv12.exe. On Linux and Unix operating systems, the name is dbsrv12.

Server differences

The request-processing engine is identical in both the personal and network servers. Each one supports exactly the same SQL, but there are some database features that are only supported by the network database server, such as database mirroring and in-memory mode. A database created with a personal database server can be used with a network database server and vice versa. The main differences include:

Network protocol support Only the network server supports communications across a network. See Selecting communications protocols.
Number of connections The personal server has a limit of ten simultaneous connections. The limit for the network server depends on your license. See Server Licensing utility (dblic).
Number of CPUs With per-seat licensing, the network database server uses all CPUs available on the computer (the default). With CPU-based licensing, the network database server uses only the number of processors you are licensed for. The number of CPUs that the network database server can use may also be affected by your SQL Anywhere edition or the -gt server option. The personal database server is limited to a single processor. See:
- Editions and licensing
- -gt dbeng12/dbsrv12 server option
Startup defaults To reflect their use as a personal server and a network server for many users, the startup defaults are slightly different for each.

Network software requirements

Start the database server
Stopping the database server
Starting and stopping databases
Configuring database servers
Setting a maximum page size
Naming the database server and the databases
Using configuration files to store database server startup options
Logging database server actions
Suppressing Windows event log messages
Controlling performance and memory from the command line
Controlling permissions from the command line
Running in special modes
Threading in SQL Anywhere
Running the database server outside the current session
Running authenticated SQL Anywhere applications
Running SQL Anywhere on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 2008

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