Sun pulls MySQL into its orbit
Pays $1bn for Web's favourite free database
Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Backup/Recovery
Updated: Sun Microsystems is to pay $1bn for open source database developer MySQL.
MySQL's open source databases are widely used online, but Sun is hoping to increase their use in more traditional IT and enterprise settings. The database is used by many websites - 50,000 copies a day are downloaded.
MySQL will be integrated into Sun's Software, Sales and Services organisation. MySQL's CEO Marten Mickos will join Sun's senior executive team, and a group of staff from both companies will sort out the integration.
MySQL makes a range of databases, including MySQL Enterprise Server, MySQL Enterprise Monitor, and MySQL Embedded Database, and claims 100 million copies have been downloaded at some time. It provides the "M" in LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP/Perl/Python) - the software stack much of the web runs on.
Although Sun is generally seen as a good friend to the open source community, it will be interesting to see how that sometimes touchy group reacts to the corporate takeover.
MySQL is run from Uppsala, Sweden and Cupertino, California. It has 400 staff in 25 countries.
Sun is paying $800m in cash and will take on $200m in share options.
Laurent Lachal, open source director at the IT analyst house Ovum, told The Reg: "I have my doubts about this deal, I'm neutral. Considering Sun's record of buying software companines it has the capacity to build on MySQL's momentum or destroy it.
"Sun needs be clearer about its open source strategy. However there's a good alignment in terms of culture and Sun can definitely help MySQL move into telecoms and into more corporate environments."
According to Lachal, the deal was safer for MySQL than an Initial Public Offering - which might be difficult in the current climate and could be torpedoed by Oracle.
The press release is here, and there's a conference call from 3.00pm GMT here. ®
COMMENTS
Agreed. This is likely to become the best thing ever to happen to
Postgres. MySQL has been good to me for years, and I trust that someone will fork a GPLed "new, new version" if Sun somehow can't quite bring this through their Reality Distortion Layer without catastrophic damage, but I'm going to make darn well sure that anything I do on MySQL from here on out is trow-a-switch portable to Postgres and/or Firebird for the next year or two. Which should be a standard practice anyway, no?
MySQL may be used under the GPL even for commercial use.
Referring to Enterprise Server: "MySQL Enterprise is the comprehensive subscription offering that provides database developers and DBAs with everything they need to successfully develop and deploy database solutions with MySQL. It includes Certified Software, updates and upgrades, proactive alerts and advisors, the online MySQL Knowledge Base, and full production-level technical support. The Certified Software (database server, connectors) is provided under the GPL License. Optionally, customers may choose a Commercial License."
That is from http://www.mysql.com/company/legal/licensing/
So comments that one cannot use MySQL server under the GPL for commercial use are unfounded, for now...
Mysql's income
comes from licensing, afaik
Anyway I suspect this will herald in Postgres's ascendancy
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