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    MariaDB Enhances Open Source Alternative to MySQL Databases

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    Thanks to issues surrounding how to make the open source MySQL databases scale and concerns about Oracle’s ongoing stewardship of the project, interest in an open source MariaDB, which is compatible with MySQL applications, is on the rise.

    MariaDB Corporation this week rolled out a summer release of MariaDB that adds support for Docker containers as well as an IT automation framework based on the open source Chef project.

    MariaDB Corporation CEO Patrik Sallner says that in addition to providing access to advanced technologies without requiring IT organizations to rewrite their MySQL applications, this latest release hardens the open source database from both a management and security perspective.

    With support from Red Hat and Suse, MariaDB has been gaining traction. Rather than having to shard a MySQL database to scale an application, Sallner says MariaDB provides an alternative approach that is designed to scale from the ground up. In addition, MariaDB offers a MaxScale proxy platform that provides load balancing, firewall protection and, if needed, a sharding capability that works without requiring IT organizations to modify existing applications.

    There is not yet a full-on mass exodus underway to MariaDB. However, many IT organizations have made a shift to NoSQL databases that scale better than MySQL. The challenge with making a shift to a NoSQL database is that this approach creates major havoc because all applications using MySQL need to be rewritten. In contrast, MariaDB provides an alternative to MySQL that, in addition to being free of any influence from Oracle, is a whole lot less disruptive to the IT environment as a whole.

    Mike Vizard
    Mike Vizard
    Michael Vizard is a seasoned IT journalist, with nearly 30 years of experience writing and editing about enterprise IT issues. He is a contributor to publications including Programmableweb, IT Business Edge, CIOinsight and UBM Tech. He formerly was editorial director for Ziff-Davis Enterprise, where he launched the company’s custom content division, and has also served as editor in chief for CRN and InfoWorld. He also has held editorial positions at PC Week, Computerworld and Digital Review.

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