Open Source Blog

Writes Walli:

“As bad an idea as ‘Unbreakable Linux’ might be, it is at least a product complement to Oracle's own product. ‘Unbreakable MySQL’ is a competing product, and not even Oracle's applications business would benefit from a "less expensive database" unless Oracle actually wants to move all its applications to MySQL and completely destroy their Oracle database business.

The actual MySQL Network offering is much more than mere support, so Oracle would be offering an inferior product, instead of a competing product. This is not about offering an Oracle-tuned Red Hat Linux. If I had to choose between Oracle and MySQL, I know which set of engineers I would want supporting my MySQL Cluster high-availability environment.”

Fletcher adds:

“Oracle already realizes that MySQL AB is eating its lunch from the bottom up, MySQL support on Unbreakable Linux can help them hold onto customers who might be seriously considering making the transition.

MySQL continues to gain some serious traction. Plus, they're not going to exactly disappear anytime soon with an IPO in the works. It only makes sense to respond to their growing status as a competitive threat in some form or fashion.

MySQL support is only the first of a series of moves by the database giant. They're in this for the long haul and will continue to remain increasingly active in parallel areas, especially if MySQL AB continues to exhibit such strong signs of growth.”

So will it really happen? When it comes to Oracle, who knows, but it would seem very difficult for Oracle to undercut MySQL now that it is offering a site-wide license for MySQL Enterprise for the same price as Oracle charges for its Enterprise Edition database running on a single CPU.