Oracle boosts enterprise MySQL

Oracle has updated its MySQL Enterprise Edition database promising improved performance and lower total cost of ownership as it seeks to rival Microsoft's SQL Server product.

MySQL Enterprise Edition 5.5 has been updated with easy-to-use and comprehensive management tools, and offers 90 per cent lower total cost of ownership than Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle said.

On board are the standard MySQL database as well as monitoring, backup and design tools, and always-available customer support. New additions include MySQL Enterprise Backup and MySQL Workbench as well as some improvements in MySQL Enterprise Monitor.

Support has been improved and Oracle said version 5.5 also includes integration with MyOracle Support for problem solving and issue resolution.

This feature also extends to training and teaching materials, which could be used as a lure for users of other systems, such as SQL Server or Linux systems.

"The latest enhancements in MySQL Enterprise Edition underscore Oracle's commitment to helping customers be successful with the world's most popular open-source database," said Tomas Ulin, vice president of engineering at Oracle.

"With the enhancements to MySQL Enterprise Monitor and MySQL Enterprise Backup, along with streamlined, global support, database administrators and developers can speed their MySQL deployments while reducing total cost of ownership."

MySQL Enterprise Monitor 2.3 adds new rules and graphs that can help analyse and optimise the performance of MySQL Database and MySQL Cluster, and Oracle added that key systems would get extra coverage from new MySQL, InnoDB and operating system-specific graphs.

Should problems arise and have an impact on the organisation, Oracle has updated MySQL Enterprise Backup to version 3.5. This offers improved back-ups and superior data integrity and uptime, the firm said.