MySQL 5.1 servers take early bath
Database firm breaks download tool database
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People clambering to get their hands on the latest candidate release of MySQL 5.1 were yesterday locked out of Sun Microsystems' download servers for several hours.
Sun’s latest version of the popular open source database was supposed to land at the end of last month after its original pencilled-in first quarter release was delayed by the company.
El Reg reader Adam told us: "I've been trying to download a MySQL candidate release 5.1 all day but the darn servers seem to be broken. It asks me to select a mirror and then does nothing, not even listing any mirrors.
“It turns out this is for all its downloads for MySQL.com. So frustrating when you are up against a deadline.”
We asked Sun if it had been experiencing server problems with its tsystems. A spokeswoman for the firm told us via email late yesterday: “It turns out that over the last few weeks, MySQL had been updating its website's infrastructure.
“One recent change broke the download tool for a few hours this morning, but it should be fixed and working normally now.”
MySQL's databases are widely used online. When Sun bought the outfit in January for $1bn, the vendor said it hoped to increase usage in more traditional IT and enterprise settings. Indeed, the MySQL 5.1 release candidate features a number of bug fixes and bread-and-butter database features targeting enterprise deployment.
The database is used by many well-known websites, including tech giants Google, Yahoo! and Nokia – 50,000 copies a day are downloaded.
Sun, which is in the midst of significant layoffs, yesterday posted Q4 prelims in an attempt to calm investors' jittery nerves ahead of publishing its quarterly results on 1 August. ®
COMMENTS
Never trust software companies
Never trust software companies (666).
Enough Said
Clue needed?
Anonymous coward 2, Sun provides support for PostgreSQL as well so I guess Sun is happy either way. Want some free beer or some real GPL freedom? You can get the MySQL Enterprise builds and source from non-MySQL mirrors like http://mirror.provenscaling.com/mysql/enterprise/. Where can I get the proprietary EnterpriseDB builds and source without paying EnterpriseDB?
Anonymous Coward 1, you're trying to get them to say 5.1 is ready for production use while you're having a problem that proves it's not? Logic failure. Do they listen to what you're telling them about a bug that you say is critical and not release it or listen to you begging them to release it before it's ready so you can get a hot fix?
You wouldn't be writing about speed improvements if your business is non-operational. The support monkeys must be trying to be polite to a difficult customer who is trying to get something she's not entitled to.
"What limitations apply if I use non-Enterprise binaries or non-GA Enterprise binaries such as alpha, beta, and release-candidate (gamma) binaries?
Non-Enterprise platforms do not receive Hotfixes".
http://www.mysql.com/about/legal/supportpolicies/policies-04.html
"What issues are eligible for a MySQL Enterprise HotFix?
HotFixes are emergency database server patches. The issue must be validated by MySQL Support as a Severity 1 case. The bug must not be addressed in a current MySQL Enterprise server service pack".
http://www.mysql.com/about/legal/supportpolicies/policies-03.html
"Severity 1 Issues
A Severity 1 problem represents a catastrophic problem in the customer's production systems. The customer cannot continue essential operations".
http://www.mysql.com/about/legal/supportpolicies/policies-11.html

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