# Do I lose anything by using legacy databases?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/do-i-lose-anything-by-using-legacy-databases/170864>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [June 23, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/do-i-lose-anything-by-using-legacy-databases/170864 "2009-06-23T19:00:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jmDesktop](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@jmDesktop](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jmDesktop)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/do-i-lose-anything-by-using-legacy-databases/170864/1 "2009-06-23T19:00:52Z")

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If I have information in a legacy database will I be losing anything  
by using RoR. Can I store configuration information in mysql but  
display data from my legacy database?

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**Author:** ![jmDesktop](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@jmDesktop](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jmDesktop)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/do-i-lose-anything-by-using-legacy-databases/170864/2 "2009-06-24T00:29:01Z")

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On Jun 23, 5:59 pm, jmDesktop [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> If I have information in a legacy database will I be losing anything  
> by using RoR. Can I store configuration information in mysql but  
> display data from my legacy database?

That really depends on what database it is. However, there’s  
absolutely not requirement for you to use MySQL; ActiveRecord provides  
adaptors that will work with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, DB2 or  
SQL Server, and there are also adaptors available for other  
databases.

While there are a few DB-specific issues to bear in mind, you should  
be fine using any of these databases.

-Matt