Compared to traditional software, open source offers some key advantages:

Reliability and Performance. A huge community of developers tests the software across a range of 

platforms and uses before it is certified for production. Bugs are found and fixed quickly. Access to

source code ensures a thorough understanding of the system. Developers can also make modifications

or performance enhancements as necessary.      

Ease of deployment. Because open source software focuses on the most essential capabilities, as 

opposed to having hundreds of rarely used features, installation and deployment is often easier than

proprietary software. Most open source software now comes with easy-to-use installation software,

graphical management tools, and on-line help.  

Freedom from Platform Lock-in. By providing ready access to source code, open source ensures 

freedom, thereby preventing lock-in to a single company or platform. Open source software is typically

available on dozens of platforms so you can choose the most economical for your project needs.  

Security. Because open source software is out in the open, it is typically more secure and suffers fewer 

vulnerability attacks than proprietary software. When a problem is uncovered, it is addressed quickly.  

Millions of Trained and Certified Developers. It s easy to find high-quality, skilled staff. The open 

source community is self-supportive, with vast product knowledge available on the Web. In addition,

there is a large community of certified consultants, third party add-ins, technical books, training courses

and so on.  

Corporate acceptance of Linux has laid a foundation, both technically and culturally, for the broader

adoption of open source technology. Leading organizations are now using open source database

technology to further increase operational efficiency by driving down the cost of ownership for new and

existing applications.

 

 

Beyond Linux Databases Go Open Source

Just as Linux helped drive down the price of proprietary Unix servers by offering lower-cost, more

reliable Intel and AMD based commodity servers, many believe that the time is ripe for change in the

6.6 billion

5

  database market. The market has been dominated by three large incumbents, each

consumed with introducing new upgraded proprietary technology at ever increasing prices year after

year. Yet, paradoxically, many database users are seeking simpler, easier to use products that provide

enterprise functionality at commodity pricing.

 

With software running about 16% of the TCO of database applications, the annual cost to the economy

of running database applications can be estimated at over 40 Billion. Not surprisingly, CIOs are on a

warpath to reduce unnecessary spending by introducing open source database technology.

 

Charlie Garry, an analyst at Meta Group Inc. claims that as the leading open source database, MySQL is

a disruptive technology.

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  According to Garry, the question is no longer whether companies will use

open source databases, but rather which open source database will they deploy.

 

 

5

 Gartner Group. 2002 Database Market Estimates.

6

  MySQL Breaks Into the Data Center, Computerworld, October 13, 2003

 Copyright 2006, MySQL AB

 

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