MySQL

Overview

FAQs for MySQL

Here are the answers to your general and technical questions.


  1. General
Q:
What are the synchronization and replication capabilities of MySQL?
A:
Synchronization is required when an organization has:
  • Remote systems, which need real-time or periodic updates (e.g. Bank teller machine)
  • Mobile users, who typically need occasional updates (e.g. Traveling sales person)
MySQL provides synchronization via its Master-Slave Replication capabilities. Extensive documentation makes it easy to setup and configure MySQL for replication.
Q:
Is MySQL easy to administer?
A:
MySQL has a well-earned and established reputation as an easy-to-administer database. Developers have the flexibility to configure, tune and optimize MySQL. Users typically are unaware of the existence of the database, and do not need a database administrator, since the install takes care of the configuration.
Q:
What are the minimum system requirements for MySQL?
A:
  • Minimum memory: 8 MB of RAM
  • Minimum disk-based server: 40 MB of Hard Disk
  • Default disk-based server: 40 MB of Hard Disk
Q:
What platforms does MySQL support?
A:
MySQL runs on:
  • Linux (Red Hat, SUSE, Mandrake, Debian)
  • Embedded Linux (MontaVista, LynuxWorks BlueCat)
  • Unix (Solaris, HP-UX, AIX)
  • BSD (Mac OS X, FreeBSD)
  • Windows (Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP)
  • RTOS (QNX)
  • Handheld (Windows CE)
  • For the complete list of MySQL Enterprise supported operating systems and CPUs, visit the Supported Platforms page.
Q:
What industry standards and 3rd party tools does MySQL support?
A:
MySQL has drivers for:
  • ODBC
  • JDBC
  • .NET
  • C++
MySQL application can be developed in any popular language, including:
  • C
  • C++
  • C#
  • Java
  • Delphi
  • Visual Basic
  • Perl
  • Python
  • PHP
MySQL applications can be developed using popular development tools, including:
  • Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Borland Delphi and JBuilder
  • Eclipse
  • NetBeans
MySQL databases can be administered using popular database tools, including:
  • MySQL Administrator
  • Quest Software Toad for MySQL
  • Embarcadero ER/Studio
MySQL applications can be deployed using popular deployment tools, including:
  • InstallShield
  • WiseInstaller
Q:
If I am a business, public sector institutions or users looking for the highest reliability in software and services, what product should I download?
A:
Purchase MySQL Enterprise subscription starting at $595/server/year.
Q:
If I am a developer or organization looking to maintain my own solutions, what product should I download?
A:

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  1. MySQL Enterprise
Q:
What is MySQL Enterprise?
A:
MySQL Enterprise includes:
  • MySQL Enterprise Server software, the most reliable, secure and up-to date version of the world's most popular open source database
  • MySQL Enterprise Monitor that continuously monitors your database and proactively advises you on how to implement MySQL best practices
  • MySQL 24x7 Production Support with fast response times to assist you in the development, deployment and management of MySQL applications
Q:
What is MySQL Enterprise Server?
A:
MySQL Enterprise Server software cost-effectively delivers e-commerce, Online Transaction Processing (OLTP), and multi-terabyte Data Warehousing applications. It is a fully integrated transaction-safe, ACID compliant database with full commit, rollback, crash recovery and row level locking capabilities.
Q:
What is the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
A:
The MySQL Enterprise Monitor is like having a "Virtual DBA Assistant" at your side to recommend best practices to eliminate security vulnerabilities, improve replication, and optimize performance by helping you locate and eliminate poorly performing SQL code with the new Query Analyzer. It continuously monitors your MySQL servers and alerts you to potential problems before they impact your system. As a result, your developers, DBAs and System Administrators experience improved productivity, while your applications perform at peak levels.
Q:
What is MySQL Production Support?
A:
Production Support consists of 4 components:
  • Problem Resolution Support
  • Consultative Support
  • Knowledge Base
  • Technical Account Manager (option)
MySQL Production Support gives you priority access with guaranteed response times to assist you with the development, deployment and management of your MySQL applications. Learn More
Q:
Does MySQL Enterprise include maintenance, updates, and upgrades?
A:
Yes. As long as you have a valid contract for MySQL Enterprise, you will receive all new MySQL Enterprise Server software releases including software maintenance, updates, and upgrades. The Software Update Service will automatically notify you of the new releases.
Q:
Are there any demo/tutorials available for MySQL Enterprise?
A:
Yes. Multiple self-running demos are available. Watch how the MySQL Enterprise Monitor Dashboard provides at-a-glance visibility into the health, security, performance and availability of all your MySQL servers.

Learn how the MySQL Enterprise Monitor auto-discovers and groups your Replication topologies and allows you to view the status of all your Master/Slaves from a single console.
Q:
How does MySQL reduce TCO?
A:
MySQL reduces the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of database software by:
  • Reducing database licensing costs by over 90%
  • Cutting systems downtime by 60%
  • Lowering hardware expenditure by 70%
  • Reducing administration, engineering and support costs by up to 50%
For more information, read the white paper "A Guide to Lower Database TCO".

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  1. MySQL Cluster
Q:
What is MySQL Cluster?
A:
MySQL Cluster combines the world's most popular open source database with a parallel-server, fault tolerant clustering architecture so you can deliver mission-critical database applications with 99.999% availability. MySQL Cluster maximizes the availability of your business applications in an open and cost-effective manner. MySQL Clusters enables organizations to overcome the traditional barriers to adopting high-availability clustering solutions by:
  • Reducing software costs with an affordable licensing model.
  • Reducing hardware costs by running on commodity hardware.
  • Reducing operating costs by reducing the need for specialized administration skills.
Q:
What are the key features and benefits of MySQL Cluster?
A:
  • High Availability - Cost-effectively deliver "5 nines" availability using parallel server architecture with no single point of failure.
  • Dynamic Scalability - Incrementally scale-out your applications as your business needs grow, using commodity hardware.
  • High-Performance - Deliver the performance and throughput required to meet the most demanding enterprise applications.
  • Low cost - Achieve mainframe reliability and scalability using commodity hardware.
Q:
What are the typical performance metrics for MySQL Cluster?
A:
  • Availability
    • 99.999% (<5 min downtime / year)
  • Performance
    • Response Time 5-10 millisecond (with synchronous replication)
  • Throughput of 10,000+ replicated transactions/sec on a 2 Node Cluster, with 1 CPU Per Node (minimal configuration)
  • Throughput of 100,000 replicated transactions/sec on 4 Node Cluster, with 2 CPU Per Node (low-end configuration)
  • Failover
    • Sub-second failover enables you to deliver service without interruption
  • Scalability
    • Near-linear scalability on preferred system configurations.
  • For cost-effective scale-out:
    • Add more storage nodes (8, 16, 32, etc.) per cluster, or
  • Add more CPUs (4, 8, etc.) or
  • Add more Memory (16GB, 32GB, etc.) per storage node

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