MySQL Administrators Guide [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

1.3 Overview of MySQL AB

MySQL AB is the company of the MySQL founders and main developers. MySQL AB was originally established in Sweden by David Axmark, Allan Larsson, and Michael "Monty" Widenius.Section 1.2, "Overview of the MySQL Database Management System."

The MySQL core values show our dedication to MySQL and Open Source.

These core values direct how MySQL AB works with the MySQL server software:

To be the best and the most widely used database in the world

To be available and affordable by all

To be easy to use

To be continuously improved while remaining fast and safe

To be fun to use and improve

To be free from bugs

These are the core values of the company MySQL AB and its employees:

We subscribe to the Open Source philosophy and support the Open Source community

We aim to be good citizens

We prefer partners that share our values and mindset

We answer email and provide support

We are a virtual company, networking with others

We work against software patents

The MySQL Web site (http://www.mysql.com/) provides the latest information about MySQL and MySQL AB.

By the way, the "AB" part of the company name is the acronym for the Swedish "aktiebolag," or "stock company." It translates to "MySQL, Inc." In fact, MySQL, Inc. and MySQL GmbH are examples of MySQL AB subsidiaries. They are located in the United States and Germany, respectively.

1.3.1 The Business Model and Services of MySQL AB

One of the most common questions we encounter is, "How can you make a living from something you give away for free?" This is how:

MySQL AB makes money on support, services, commercial licenses, and royalties.

We use these revenues to fund product development and to expand the MySQL business.

The company has been profitable since its inception. In October 2001, we accepted venture financing from leading Scandinavian investors and a handful of business angels. This investment is used to solidify our business model and build a basis for sustainable growth.

1.3.1.1 Support

MySQL AB is run and owned by the founders and main developers of the MySQL database. The developers are committed to providing support to customers and other users in order to stay in touch with their needs and problems. All our support is provided by qualified developers. Really tricky questions are answered by Michael "Monty" Widenius, principal author of the MySQL Server.Section 1.4, "MySQL Support and Licensing."

1.3.1.2 Training and Certification

MySQL AB delivers MySQL and related training worldwide. We offer both open courses and in-house courses tailored to the specific needs of your company. MySQL Training is also available through our partners, the Authorized MySQL Training Centers.

Our training material uses the same sample databases used in our documentation and our sample applications, and is always updated to reflect the latest MySQL version. Our trainers are backed by the development team to guarantee the quality of the training and the continuous development of the course material. This also ensures that no questions raised during the courses remain unanswered.

Attending our training courses will enable you to achieve your MySQL application goals. You will also:

Save time

Improve the performance of your applications

Reduce or eliminate the need for additional hardware, decreasing cost

Enhance security

Increase customer and co-worker satisfaction

Prepare yourself for MySQL Certification

If you are interested in our training as a potential participant or as a training partner, please visit the training section at http://www.mysql.com/training/, or send email to http://www.mysql.com/certification/.

1.3.1.3 Consulting

MySQL AB and its Authorized Partners offer consulting services to users of MySQL Server and to those who embed MySQL Server in their own software, all over the world.

Our consultants can help you design and tune your databases, construct efficient queries, tune your platform for optimal performance, resolve migration issues, set up replication, build robust transactional applications, and more. We also help customers embed MySQL Server in their products and applications for large-scale deployment.

Our consultants work in close collaboration with our development team, which ensures the technical quality of our professional services. Consulting assignments range from two-day power-start sessions to projects that span weeks and months. Our expertise covers not only MySQL Server, it also extends into programming and scripting languages such as PHP, Perl, and more.

If you are interested in our consulting services or want to become a consulting partner, please visit the consulting section of our Web site at http://www.mysql.com/consulting/ or contact our consulting staff at

1.3.1.4 Commercial Licenses

The MySQL database is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This means that the MySQL software can be used free of charge under the GPL. If you do not want to be bound by the GPL terms (such as the requirement that your application must also be GPL), you may purchase a commercial license for the same product from MySQL AB; see Section 1.4.3, "MySQL Licenses."

We also sell commercial licenses of third-party Open Source GPL software that adds value to MySQL Server. A good example is the InnoDB transactional storage engine that offers ACID support, row-level locking, crash recovery, multi-versioning, foreign key support, and more.

1.3.1.5 Partnering

MySQL AB has a worldwide partner program that covers training courses, consulting and support, publications, plus reselling and distributing MySQL and related products. MySQL AB Partners get visibility on the Section 1.4.4, "MySQL AB Logos and Trademarks." These trademarks represent a significant value that the MySQL founders have built over the years.

The MySQL Web site (http://www.mysql.com/) is popular among developers and users. In December 2003, we served 16 million page views. Our visitors represent a group that makes purchase decisions and recommendations for both software and hardware. Twelve percent of our visitors authorize purchase decisions, and only nine percent have no involvement at all in purchase decisions. More than 65% have made one or more online business purchases within the last half-year, and 70% plan to make one in the next few months.

1.3.2 Contact Information

The MySQL Web site (Section 1.4.1, "Support Offered by MySQL AB." On our Web site, see Section 1.4.3, "MySQL Licenses."Section 1.4.4, "MySQL AB Logos and Trademarks."

If you are interested in any of the MySQL AB jobs listed in our jobs section (Section 1.7.1, "MySQL Mailing Lists."

Reports of errors (often called "bugs"), as well as questions and comments, should be sent to the general MySQL mailing list. See Section 1.7.1.1, "The MySQL Mailing Lists." If you have found a sensitive security bug in MySQL Server, please let us know immediately by sending email to Section 1.7.1.3, "How to Report Bugs or Problems."

If you have benchmark results that we can publish, please contact us via email at http://www.mysql.com/), please send email to http://www.mysql.com/company/privacyl. For any queries regarding this policy, please send email to