University of Kent

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England's University of Kent is a long-time user of Sun Microsystems products. It operates well over a hundred servers on its main campus in Canterbury. Throughout the Information Services department (IS), various groups have successfully used Sun's MySQL database, a free downloadable version of the open- source database. "We like MySQL - it does the job, we know it, and we know what we can do with it," says Michael Wilcox, head of Web development and support services in the Information Services department at the University of Kent. The University's Web site runs on the Apache Web Server and uses the PHP scripting language with MySQL as its database, all on Sun servers running the Solaris Operating System. This combination is sometimes referred to as the SAMP stack - short for Solaris/Apache/MySQL/PHP - and is similar to the Linux-based LAMP stack.

Recently the University began migrating some of its Web applications from the MySQL Community Edition to MySQL Enterprise. This commercial version is a subscription-based service that includes the MySQL Enterprise server along with MySQL Enterprise Monitor and advisors. In addition, subscribers get 24/7 production support, which provides monthly updates, quarterly patches, and phone, email, and online access to MySQL engineers. "We're investing in the support provided with MySQL Enterprise because we are increasingly using MySQL to build more business-critical applications," says Wilcox. "MySQL Enterprise provides a security blanket for the applications in our production environment. With support from the experts, we are able to get around the obstacles that crop up in day-to-day development. Sun has a good understanding of the issues and responds rapidly," says Wilcox.

One Web-based project the University has developed and is migrating from the MySQL Community Edition to MySQL Enterprise is a new student Web portal, launched in November 2008. The portal runs on the Java-based platform, uPortal. Targeted at more than 14,000 undergraduate students, the portal is essentially a lightweight dashboard designed to be a one-stop shop for students. It currently provides general information - filtered according to a student's area of study - and will ultimately provide access to email, student records, and a new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that IS is developing. Students will use the VLE for various activities like accessing course materials, joining online forums, coordinating peer-group activities, working with tutors, and submitting assignments. The University is migrating the existing VLE to one based on Moodle, an open-source course management system that uses MySQL as its core database.

Another mission-critical application that the IS department developed using Java and MySQL Enterprise is the Clearing Applications Management System (CAMS). Every August, the Clearing process matches thousands of students to course vacancies at the university. A call center is set up and prospective students can call or submit online applications during this time. Admissions officers and call center workers use CAMS to help grant admission to students as quickly and efficiently as possible. "It's a critical system for both students and the University. It doesn't run year round, but during the month of August, it's inundated with activity. We have to ensure that it is up and running and can handle peak loads," says Wilcox.

Wilcox says MySQL has been used pervasively in IS for Web development because of the popular LAMP stack. He adds that the increasing demand for Web-based services and the migration of traditional enterprise solutions to the Web is a driving factor in the University's migration of some systems to MySQL Enterprise. "There is a lot of expectation around having powerful systems online in the Web browser, and I think that's a major driver for us. As a standard for online databases, MySQL is a natural fit," says Wilcox.

The University has been exploring running MySQL Enterprise on Solaris Cluster 3.2 to provide a Highly Available (HA) database solution. The first application to take advantage of this will be the new Moodle VLE. "Guaranteeing provision of vital services to students at all times is crucial," says Wilcox.

"The open-source aspect and the community around MySQL are of great benefit," says Wilcox. "Not all open source is good, but when done correctly with the right community behind it, it's fantastic. It's something we definitely look for when we're evaluating new systems." Wilcox also notes that MySQL is a no-cost entry point. "It allows us to develop new applications economically before putting them into production," says Wilcox.