Yes, we've considered MySQL... basically we've begged on our knees to be given any database since we aren't allowed access to our Oracle system, but IT says no dice. They don't know MySQL and will not put it on our system no matter what proof to its benefits we provide. I don't have the admin rights on our systems to do it myself. I'm looking to do this stop-gap solution for now. I appreciate the replies and outside of the box suggestions, but I want to assure you all that I am unfortunately extrememly familiar with the data and what the user is doing with it all. I am glad to know that the file locking isn't an issue. Honestly, I never really thought it was but that enough non-perl people have been questioning me on it that I began to doubt my previous thoughts.