Here's a comprehensive presentation to get you started using databases with MapInfo Pro.
https://www.slideshare.net/peterhorsbollmoller/mapinfo-professional-120-and-sql-server-2008.
The presentation is based on MapInfo Pro 12.0, the 32 bit version of EasyLoader and SQL Server 2008.
There has been some changes to the software since I created the presentation:
- Pro now allows you to open multiple tables from a database connection
- Pro allows you to create NativeX/MapInfo Extended Native tables which can hold more than 2 GB per file.
- Remember to create you database connections as 64 bit, not 32 bit. I'm assuming that you are using a 64 bit version of MapInfo Pro
- EasyLoader has a brand new look and feel - much better interface!
- SQL Server is now at version 2016 but besides that it's still much the same.
But besides these changes, much of the content from the presentation is still valid.
I would second Martin. If you have access to SQL Server already, go with that. It also has to benefit of allowing you to use Windows Authentication when accessing the database (~ you won't have to enter user name and password when connecting).