ApexSQL vs Dell^® – Log reading and Data recovery comparative feature summary

ApexSQL Log &
ApexSQL Recover

Dell^® LiteSpeed for SQL Server

Log reading/auditing features

Codepage/Unicode support

Full support – all fields properly recognized

3

Cannot recognize variant fields

1

Blob reconstruction

Full support – no size or type limits

Cannot show and export blobs larger than 55k, only manual reconstruction

1

Select into auditing

Full support

3

Not supported

0

Sparse columns

Full support with clustered key reconstruction

3

Not supported

0

Row compression

Full support

3

Not supported

0

Page compression

Full support

3

Not supported

0

TLOG statistic

More info, no graphic

2

Graphs

2

Server side component-less operation

Full Server side component-less support for the local server. No extended stored procedures needed for remote servers

3

Requires extended stored procedures to be installed prior to auditing both local and remote servers

0

CLI support/Automation

All options are available through CLI and easy batch file creation interface is available. Also supports continuous auditing mode for easy batch job creation.

3

No CLI support

0

Data Export

Has support for CSV, XML, HTML, SQL, SQL Bulk and Before-After exporting in these formats. Also supports direct-to-database export for appropriate formats.

3

Missing SQL, BULK SQL, and Before-After export. Direct to DB export has no overwrite and confirmation checks.

2

Update reconstruction

Support various reconstruction algorithms – if there is any data available it will be reconstructed

3

Can only use transaction log backups and cannot reconstruct update operations from other data sources – most complex updates cannot be reconstructed

1

Data quality and quantity

Various advanced data fields are available – Transaction description, transaction duration, advanced login information…

3

Only basic operation data is available – no advanced fields are available

1

Script generation

Advanced recovery scripts with full error handling

3

Only basic scripts are generated without error handling statements

1

Compressed backup reading

Full support for natively compressed backups including full, differential and transaction log backup

3

Cannot read natively compressed backups

0

Project/exporting filter

Comprehensive data filter is available for project and export

3

There is no project/direct export filter

0

GUI grid filter

All audited data/columns may be used for filtering

3

Advanced filter is available with all available fields, but it is hard to find and still has fewer features than Log

2

Search

Advanced search available including operation details and history

3

Basic search functionality – only exact grid data can be found, no partial matches

1

Operation history

Full list view available for every operation with option to go directly to any record

3

Only basic update chain available hidden in right click menu, no insert/delete detection

1

Time filtering

New features – beginning/end of log recognition, relative time filter to first/last operation detected.

3

Easy to use, offers beginning/end of log options

2

Automatic operation reconstruction

Fully automatic operation reconstruction – no user input needed

3

Manual reconstruction only – the user has to click reconstruct button

1

View RAW transaction log data

N/A

0

Shows raw log operations

3

Transaction view

N/A

0

Shows transaction view but lacks operation information

2

Live data update

N/A

0

Enables live transaction log monitoring for new operations

3

Ease of use

Optimized project interface with only the basic options available right away and advanced options button for power users. Simplified data source step with no advanced knowledge needed to recognize a different kind of backups/detached sources.

3

Simple wizard – basic options available – very easy to use

2

General performance

400% faster on small databases, speed gain increases exponentially up to more than 1000%

3

Much slower, Cannot read large databases (more than 5M records)

2

Recovery features

DELETE, DROP, TRUNCATE Recovery

Full support for all SQL server features, advanced time filtering, robust recovery script generation.

3

No direct recovery mode (only using log reader)

Requires Server side component

Missing feature support:

• Unicode compression
• Sparse columns
• Page & Row compression
• Direct to DB exporting
• Poor update reconstruction

1

BLOB data recovery

Fully supported

3

N/A

0

Backup data recovery

Fully supported – only native SQL Server backups are supported (including compressed)

2

Fully supported. Also supports 3rd party (custom) compressed backups.

3

Performance

200% faster on small databases, speed gain increases exponentially up to more than 1000%

3

Much slower, Cannot read large databases (more than 5M records) and only 1 table at a time can be recovered

2

TOTAL

76

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