Oracle MySQL – Free vs. commercial Author: Andra Tarata Do you want to understand why you need a license to make use of MySQL? Or what license types are available and which specific editions of the MySQL software suit your needs? The next sections explain in detail all the insights and requirements for the different types of MySQL licenses.
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ORACLE MYSQL – FREE VS. COMMERCIAL
Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3 Open source MySQL requires a license? ....................................................................................... 4 Commercial MySQL – Different licensing models? ........................................................................ 5 Commercial MySQL different editions ........................................................................................... 7 Commercial MySQL - what does it cost? .................................................................................... 10 Commercial or open source MySQL – How do I find out what I am using? ................................ 12 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 13
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Introduction MySQL is an open-source relational database management system, developed in 1995 in Sweden. The name “MySQL” is a combination of the first name of the daughter of one of the founders of the database management system (“My”) and the abbreviation of Structured Query Language (“SQL”). In 2008, Sun Microsystems acquired MySQL as a stepping stone to enter into the database market. In 2010, Oracle Corporation acquired Sun Microsystems to enrich its portfolio with hardware (the fundament of Oracle’s current Systems business unit), Java and - to a smaller extend - to incorporate the existing MySQL market. Today, MySQL software programs are both available through the open source (or General Public License) licensing model and through a commercial licensing model. As part of the commercial licensing model, Oracle allows independent software vendors (ISVs) and value added resellers (VARs) to distribute the MySQL software programs embedded in their own software applications/solutions and end users to obtain a subscription license to use MySQL for their internal business operations.
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Open source MySQL requires a license? The deployment and usage of the MySQL software programs under the open source or GPL license model means that the user is free to use the programs, change the programs and redistribute the programs with or without changes. The source code of the software is open and can be adjusted and/or changed up to the likings of the end user. Any changes that are made to the source code must however be made publically available to all other end users of the open source MySQL software programs. End users or solution providers that wish to distribute or use the GPL version of the MySQL version should comply to the GPL terms and conditions (available here) and must pass on the same freedom as they have received under the GPL license model. As a result, a lot of people are in favor of the open source licensing model of MySQL. Nevertheless, end user organizations that do not want to share the source code of their solutions built upon MySQL (e.g. because of competition reasons) or end users that do not want to rely upon community boards for support on technical issues (e.g. since the solution that has been built upon MySQL is rather business critical) typically would want to obtain a commercial subscription license for the MySQL software programs.
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Commercial MySQL – Different licensing models? To address the concerns that end user organizations may have with regards to the Open Source licensing model as listed in the previous section, different licensing types of the commercial MySQL software programs are available, including: - Subscription Licenses - Application Specific Full Use License (ASFU) licenses - Embedded Software License (ESL) Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Value Added Resellers (VARs) and other distributors that combine and distribute commercially licensed software with MySQL software, usually do not wish to distribute the source code for competition purposes and do want to provide continuous technical support for their solution; as such they typically want to make sure that the usage of MySQL is covered by a commercial license agreement with Oracle. Subscription licenses Under this licensing model, end user organizations can obtain a commercial version of the MySQL software. These licenses can only be obtained from Oracle directly or from an authorized Oracle reseller. The licensing is based upon a subscription model in which the MySQL software programs can only be used for the internal business operations of the organization in conjunction with any application. If and when the term of the subscription expires, end users either need to renew their subscription or they need to un-install the MySQL software. Application Specific Full Use (ASFU) licenses Under this licensing model, an end user organization can obtain a commercial version of the MySQL software. These licenses can only be obtained from an Oracle partner that has developed its specific commercial application on a MySQL database platform and has entered into a so called ASFU Distribution Agreement; an agreement with Oracle that allows the Oracle partner to distribute the MySQL software in conjunction with the specific application. The licensing is typically based upon a perpetual model in which the MySQL software programs can only be used for the internal business operations of the organization in conjunction with the specific application. Use of the MySQL software for any other application is not allowed.
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Embedded Software Licenses (ESL) Under this licensing model, end user organizations often do not even know that the MySQL software is part of the solution that has been obtained through an independent solution provider; the MySQL software is embedded in the device or the solution itself and as such the end user does not have (the right to) access the MySQL software directly. Any and all access to the MySQL software is required to be done through the device/solution itself. Embedded software licenses are typically sold on a perpetual basis. They are the most restrictive (and as such cheapest) software licenses and can only be used in conjunction with the specific device/solution where the SQL server programs are embedded in.
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Commercial MySQL different editions To facilitate the different business requirements that end user organizations and/or solution providers have, Oracle made several different editions of the MySQL software programs available. As for any Oracle program, every edition of the software program includes different features. It is therefore important to understand what specific features are needed for your specific business requirements. The below provides an overview of the features that are part of the different available editions of the MySQL software programs: MySQL Classic Edition includes the following features: - MySQL Database Server - MySQL Connectors - MySQL Replication - Storage Engine: MyISAM MySQL Standard Edition includes the following features: - MySQL Database Server - MySQL Connectors - MySQL Replication - MySQL Workbench - Storage Engine: MyISAM - Storage Engine: InnoDB MySQL Enterprise Edition includes the following features: - MySQL Database Server - MySQL Storage Engines (InnoDB, MyISAM, etc.) - MySQL Connectors (JDBC, ODBC, .Net, etc.) - MySQL Replication - MySQL Fabric - MySQL Partitioning - MySQL Utilities - MySQL Workbench - MySQL Enterprise Backup - MySQL Enterprise Monitor - MySQL Enterprise HA - MySQL Enterprise Scalability - MySQL Enterprise Security - MySQL Enterprise Audit
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MySQL Classic, Standard and Enterprise Edition perpetual licenses are only available for distribution by independent solution providers/partners from Oracle Corporation that entered into an Application Specific Full Use (ASFU) Program Distribution Agreement or Embedded Software License (ESL) Distribution Agreement with Oracle. Full Use licenses for these MySQL editions can NOT be obtained through Oracle Corporation or any of its resellers. MySQL Community Edition is the freely downloadable version, available under the open source General Public License (GPL) and is supported by a wide community of open source developers. The MySQL Community Edition includes pluggable storage engine architecture and multiple storage engines, such as: - InnoDB - MyISAM - NDB (MySQL Cluster) - Memory - Merge - Archive - CSV - and more It also includes the following features: - MySQL Database Server - MySQL Connectors (JDBC, ODBC, .Net, etc.) - MySQL Replication - MySQL Fabric - MySQL Partitioning - MySQL Utilities - MySQL Workbench MySQL Cluster CGE (Carrier Grade Edition) includes tools for management, monitoring security and auditing of the MySQL Cluster database, coupled with access to Oracle Premier Support. It includes the following features: - MySQL Cluster - MySQL Cluster Manager - MySQL Enterprise Backup - MySQL Enterprise Monitor - MySQL Workbench Standard Edition
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The table below provides an overview of the main features of each MySQL edition:
Features MySQL Editions
Classic Standard Enterprise Cluster CGE MySQL Database Server ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
MySQL Connectors ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
MySQL Replication ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
MySQL Fabric ✔ ✔
MySQL Router ✔ ✔
MySQL Partitioning ✔ ✔
MySQL Utilities ✔ ✔
MySQL Workbench ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Storage Engine: MyISAM ✔ ✔ ✔
Storage Engine: InnoDB ✔ ✔ ✔
Storage Engine: NDB ✔
Oracle Enterprise Manager for MySQL ✔ ✔
MySQL Enterprise Monitor ✔ ✔
MySQL Enterprise Backup ✔ ✔
MySQL Enterprise Security ✔ ✔
MySQL Enterprise Scalability ✔ ✔
MySQL Enterprise High Availability ✔ ✔
MySQL Cluster Manager ✔
MySQL Cluster Geo-Replication ✔
Oracle Products Certification ✔ ✔ ✔
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Commercial MySQL - what does it cost? As per the previous section, MySQL Classic, Standard and Enterprise Edition licenses are perpetual and only available for distribution by Oracle partners that entered into an Application Specific Full Use (ASFU) Program Distribution Agreement or Embedded Software License (ESL) Distribution Agreement with Oracle Corporation. These perpetual licenses are NOT available to be sold or distributed as full use licenses by Oracle direct sales representatives nor by Oracle partners pursuant to a Full Use Distribution Agreement. The specific pricing for these MySQL editions is therefore depending on the pricing applied by the individual Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition licenses are perpetual and available for distribution by Oracle partners that entered into an Application Specific Full Use (ASFU) Program Distribution Agreement or Embedded Software License (ESL) Distribution Agreement with Oracle Corporation and in addition, perpetual licenses can be obtained from Oracle directly. In terms of pricing, the MySQL Perpetual licenses can be acquired from Oracle against the following fees:
MySQL Perpetual License License Price Software Update License & Support Metric
MySQL Classic Edition (1-4 socket server) $1,800 $396.00 Server MySQL Classic Edition (5+ socket server) $3,600 $792.00 Server MySQL Standard Edition (1-4 socket server) $6,000 $1,320.00 Server MySQL Standard Edition (5+ socket server) $12,000 $2,640.00 Server MySQL Enterprise Edition (1-4 socket server) $15,000 $3,300.00 Server MySQL Enterprise Edition (5+ socket server) $30,000 $6,600.00 Server MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition (1-4 socket server) $30,000 $6,600.00 Server MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition (5+ socket server) $60,000 $13,200.00 Server
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The MySQL products sold on a Subscription basis can be acquired from Oracle against the following fees:
MySQL Subscription Annual Subscription Price Subscription Metric
MySQL Standard Edition Subscription (1-4 socket server) $2,000 Server MySQL Standard Edition Subscription (5+ socket server) $4,000 Server MySQL Enterprise Edition Subscription (1-4 socket server) $5,000 Server MySQL Enterprise Edition Subscription (5+ socket server) $10,000 Server MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition Subscription (1-4 socket server) $10,000 Server
MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition Subscription (5+ socket server) $20,000 Server
All MySQL licenses are currently licensed on a Server basis; server being defined as the computer on which the programs are installed. A Server license allows the end user to use the licensed program on a single specified computer.
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Commercial or open source MySQL – How do I find out what I am using? To find out if you are deploying the open source version of the MySQL software or if you are using a commercial version of the MySQL software is rather simple. Ask your database administrator to connect to the MySQL database instance and run the following command:
“SELECT @@ license” The result of this query will provide an output which will indicate if the MySQL instance is a Community Edition (so called GPL – General Public License) installation or if the MySQL instance is a commercial edition.
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Conclusion Although the majority of MySQL software programs are deployed under the open source licensing model “GPL”, end users should be aware of the fact that a commercial edition of the MySQL software programs can be deployed as well. In addition, understanding the different licensing models that are available, understanding the different features that are part of the different MySQL editions and understanding the different pricing models related to these MySQL editions is the first step. Validating on a regular basis if and what specific editions of the MySQL software programs are deployed (commercial vs open source) is the second step. Reconciling the two on a regular basis will be the last step, to stay in control and to avoid and potentially save costs.
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ORACLE MYSQL – FREE VS. COMMERCIAL
About the author: Andra Tarata, Licensing Specialist "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among stars!"- Les Brown Andra has been working in the Software Licensing industry for the last 8 years, analyzing and understanding licensing business practices & product development from multiple software vendors and helping clients to better manage their software entitlements. Andra leverages her experiences of working within Oracle’s License Management Services team to educate, equip and enable end-users to understand their enterprise software license entitlements. Andra holds a bachelor degree in Project Management from the National School of Political and Administrative Studies of Bucharest. Contact Andra: [email protected] We share our knowledge, so you can focus on the facts! Do you want to know more about different related license management topics, we have a selection of white papers available through www.b-lay.com. If you are in need of extra expertise and a structured approach, feel free to contact B-lay. We will help you make software compliance an exciting opportunity to improve your business! About B-lay B-lay is a specialist in software license management and provides services around software compliance, software audits, software asset management tools and insight in software spend. Our services offer organizations worldwide insight into the risks associated with software licenses, help prevent license compliance issues and help create considerable cost savings by optimizing their licensing position. B-lay was founded in 2008 and has offices in the Netherlands, Romania and the US. B-lay BV | Maliebaan 79 | 3581 CG Utrecht | The Netherlands | [email protected] | www.b-lay.com | +31 88 0233 700
