The DBmarlin alternative to Idera SQL Diagnostic Manager
One tool for every database, not a separate SKU per engine
One product for the full database fleet, with wait-time analysis tied to deploys and plan changes, so root cause goes beyond "high CPU on Tuesday".
Free licence includes 1 database instance. No agents. Self-hosted or cloud.
Why teams switch from Idera SQL Diagnostic Manager
What teams tell us before they cancel their SQL Diagnostic Manager licence.
Multiple products, multiple contracts
Idera covers SQL Server with SQLDM, MySQL and MariaDB with a separate product (SQL Diagnostic Manager for MySQL, formerly Monyog), and other engines through other Idera SKUs. Mixed estates end up with multiple Idera contracts and multiple consoles to maintain.
License math that compounds
Per-instance license math compounds when you cover the same database with both SQL Diagnostic Manager and a separate Idera product for compliance or backup.
Teams want one console, not several
Teams consolidating around fewer, broader observability tools want one console covering Oracle, SQL Server, Postgres, MySQL, MariaDB, and the cloud-managed engines.
Wait-time analysis tied to what changed
DBmarlin's wait-time analysis is built around change correlation, so a query slowdown ties back to the deploy, plan flip, or parameter shift that caused it.
Side-by-side comparison
DBmarlin vs Idera SQL Diagnostic Manager
The features that matter to teams leaving Idera SQL Diagnostic Manager.
| Feature | DBmarlin | Idera SQL Diagnostic Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Database support in one product | Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, and more | SQL Server only; MySQL and MariaDB require Idera's separate SQL Diagnostic Manager for MySQL product |
| Architecture | Agentless | Agentless |
| Cloud database support | Azure SQL DB, Managed Instance, AWS RDS, GCP managed engines | Azure SQL DB, Managed Instance, AWS RDS, GCP managed engines |
| Pricing model | Published, per-instance subscription, plus a free tier | Annual subscription starts at $1,247 per instance for SQL Diagnostic Manager |
| Wait-time analysis with change correlation | Yes, with deploy, plan, and parameter event tracking | Query and workload analysis with AI-driven recommendations (SQLDM 14.0) |
| Granularity | 1 second data points | 1 minute aggregated data |
| Realtime data | Realtime up to the second | Usually 1-2 minutes behind live |
| User interface | Web-based | Web console plus traditional desktop console |
| Free tier | 1 instance, no card needed | No |
One tool, one contract, one UI for the full database fleet.
Adding Postgres, Oracle, or MySQL does not mean adding another Idera SKU. DBmarlin gives every platform in your estate equal depth, wait-time analysis, query plan capture, index recommendations, and AI co-pilot, across 12+ supported platforms from a single console and a single contract.
Wait-time analysis tied to change events.
Correlate slowdowns directly with deploys, plan flips, and parameter shifts. DBmarlin automatically tracks schema changes, integrates with CI/CD tools for further change information, and correlates change with database performance, so a query slowdown ties back to the event that caused it.
Subscription pricing on a webpage, no separate maintenance line item.
DBmarlin is priced per instance with published tiers you can read without a sales call, instead of a perpetual license plus a recurring annual maintenance fee on top.
Teams that made the switch
Migration ease
You do not have to rip and replace. Run both, build confidence, cancel when you are ready.
01: Parallel run
Run DBmarlin alongside your existing SQLDM setup for 30 days. No cutover pressure.
02: White-glove onboarding
Our team provides hands-on onboarding for the first 30 days, including live sessions, configuration review, and Slack access to your assigned engineer.
03: Cutover to DBmarlin
Most teams reach equivalent SQL Server visibility within the first week, then expand to cover non-SQL-Server engines from the same console rather than buying another Idera product, before switching off SQLDM for good.
Common questions
Before you book the demo
Does DBmarlin cover everything SQL Diagnostic Manager does for SQL Server?
DBmarlin monitors SQL Server with wait-time analysis, query plan capture, blocking session detection, and AI-driven tuning recommendations. Teams moving off SQL Diagnostic Manager for SQL Server typically find equivalent or better coverage, plus the same depth extends to every other engine in your estate.
Can we keep SQL Diagnostic Manager running in parallel during the trial?
Yes. DBmarlin runs alongside SQL Diagnostic Manager with no conflict, so you can validate coverage before you cancel anything. Most teams run both for 30 days and compare directly.
How does DBmarlin compare to SQLDM 14.0's AI-powered query and index optimisation?
Both products now use AI, with different starting points. SQLDM 14.0 applies AI to query and index recommendations within SQL Server. DBmarlin's AI co-pilot correlates wait events and plan changes with your deployment markers to surface the likely root cause and recommend the fix. Worth evaluating both against your team's actual workflow.
Do you support Azure SQL DB, Managed Instance, AWS RDS, and GCP managed engines?
Yes. DBmarlin monitors Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, AWS RDS, and GCP managed engines alongside self-managed and on-prem instances of SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and more, all from the same interface.
What is the migration path if we currently run SQL Diagnostic Manager for SQL Server plus SQL Diagnostic Manager for MySQL?
Start by pointing DBmarlin at your SQL Server estate and rebuilding your key alerts and dashboards there. Once you are confident in parity, add your MySQL, MariaDB, or other instances and consolidate both Idera products into one console and one contract.
See DBmarlin running on your stack in under 30 minutes.
Connect your first database for free. No card, no agent, no separate SKU per engine.