MySQL as an Embedded Database: FAQ

1. Why should an ISV / OEM consider using MySQL as an embedded database in their application or appliance?
2. Who are some of the ISVs / OEMs using MySQL as an embedded database in their products?
3. In which industry verticals / horizontals is MySQL most commonly used as an embedded database?
4. How do ISVs, OEMs and VARs use and include MySQL with their products?
5. What are the key Relational Database features that MySQL provides?
6. How well does MySQL perform and scale?
7. How Reliable is MySQL?
8. Is MySQL easy to Administer?
9. What are the minimum system requirements for MySQL?
10. What is the list of platforms supported by MySQL?
11. Which of the popular programming languages and database drivers are supported by MySQL?
12. How does MySQL reduce TCO?
13. Where can I get more information about embedding MySQL?
14. Where can I learn more about commercial licensing of MySQL for use as an embedded database?
15. What is the pricing model for MySQL as an embedded database?

Q: 1. Why should an ISV / OEM consider using MySQL as an embedded database in their application or appliance?

A: By embedding MySQL, an ISV / OEM can provide the following benefits to its customers:

• Deliver a complete solution to the customer. Eliminate the need for the customer to evaluate, buy, and implement a separate database.
• Reduce the time required to "go live" for the customer. Eliminate the time required for development and testing cycles to implement a new database.
• Reduce your products’ COGS (cost of goods sold) and your customers TCO. MySQL reduces database-licensing costs by over 90% as compared with Microsoft SQL Server and cuts system downtime by 60%.
• Deliver a zero-administration database. Reduce the burden on your customers and the number of calls to your support group. Appeal to small and mid-sized businesses, which often lack DBAs or even dedicated IT resources.

By embedding MySQL, an ISV / OEM can focus on its core business:

• Focus your core engineers on your product. By embedding MySQL, your engineers do not have to build and maintain a proprietary database.
• Win competitive comparisons. MySQL is renowned for its superior performance and reliability.
• Increase your revenue margins. Lower the cost of your solution by embedding MySQL, the low-cost database leader, and gain the pricing flexibility to appeal to price-sensitive customers and to remain competitive and profitable even in economic downturns.
• Keep a bigger share of the customer's budget. Embedding MySQL eliminates the need for the customer to purchase a separate database.

Learn More » Top Reasons Why ISV / OEM VP Engineering Choose MySQL as an Embedded Database

Learn More » Top Reasons Why ISV / OEM Product Managers Choose MySQL as an Embedded Database

Learn More » "MySQL Server for ISVs and OEMs" White Paper

Q: 2. Who are some of the ISVs / OEMs using MySQL as an embedded database in their products?

A. Over 2000 ISV, OEMs and VARs from across the globe rely on MySQL as the underlying RDBMS in their commercial products. Please see:

• Customer case studies
• Customer list

Q: 3. In which industry verticals / horizontals is MySQL most commonly used as an embedded database?

A. MySQL is used by ISV and OEMs in virtually every industry, vertical and horizontal. It is particularly popular in:

• Network Management
• Security
• Health Care
• Content Management
• Appliances
• Retail
• Biotech
• Education

Learn More »

Q: 4. How do ISVs, OEMs and VARs use and include MySQL with their products?

A. There are 2 scenarios for embedding MySQL.

Scenario 1: Deeply Embedded MySQL

The customer has no visibility into the operation of the database. The ISV/VAR is using the embedded MySQL Server Library (libmysqld) as an in-process data storage engine that provides all the features of a traditional relational database but with a small footprint that can fit within devices, hardware, appliances and lightweight applications. In this mode, MySQL requires zero administration by the end user. In addition, because MySQL runs in-process, there is no network I/O, which helps to improve performance.

Scenario 2: Bundled MySQL

The customer has complete visibility and control over the database, enabling them to configure, tune, optimize, and administer the database. The ISV / OEM uses the MySQL Server as a standalone relational database.

Q: 5. What are the key Relational Database features that MySQL provides?

A: MySQL supports all the key Relational Database features. Learn More »

Q: 6. How well does MySQL perform and scale?

A: The MySQL database consistently scores among the top RDMSs for performance, throughput and scalability. It is used for some of the most demanding, high volume, business-critical applications at companies like Facebook, Google, Lufthansa, MIT Lincoln Labs, NASA, Sabre Holdings, Twitter, and others. Companies have implemented large "scale out" web and data warehouse applications running MySQL on dozens, hundreds and even thousands of low-cost servers. And, MySQL scales to deal with billions of rows and terabytes of data making it suitable for a wide range of transactional and analytic applications.

Learn More »

Q: 7. How Reliable is MySQL?

A: MySQL has a well-earned and established reputation for reliability and performance among its 12 million-user community. MySQL is embedded in the products of over 2000 ISVs and OEMs including leading companies including Adobe, Cisco, Ericsson, F5, Motorola, NEC, Novell, Sage, and Symantec.

Learn More »

Q: 8. Is MySQL easy to administer?

A. MySQL has a well-earned and established reputation as an easy-to-administer database. Developers have the flexibility to configure, tune and optimize MySQL. Because the configuration is done automatically in the installation process, users do not need a database administrator and typically are not even unaware of the existence of the database within their product.

Q: 9. What are the minimum system requirements for MySQL?

A:

• Minimum memory: 1 MB of RAM
• Minimum disk-based server: 4 MB of Hard Disk
• Default disk-based server: 8 MB of Hard Disk

Q: 10. What is the list of platforms supported by MySQL?

A: MySQL supports over 20 platforms, providing ISVs / OEMs the freedom to ship their products on multiple hardware and operating system combinations.
Learn More »

Q: 11. Which of the popular programming languages and database drivers are supported by MySQL?

A: MySQL supports all of the most popular programming languages including C, C++, C#, Java, PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, etc.
See complete list »

Q: 12. How does MySQL reduce TCO?

A: MySQL reduces the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of database software by:

• Reducing database licensing costs up to 90% as compared with Microsoft SQL Server
• Cutting systems downtime by 60%
• Lowering hardware expenditure by 70%
• Reducing administration, engineering and support costs by up to 50%

Q: 13. Where can I get more information about embedding MySQL?

A: You can read more product information.

Q: 14. Where can I learn more about commercial licensing of MySQL for use as an embedded database?

A. See » Commercial Licensing for OEMs, ISVs and VARs

Q: 15. What is the pricing model for MySQL as an embedded database?

A: MySQL is flexible and will work with you to identify intelligent pricing models based on your requirements.

For pricing details » Contact the MySQL OEM sales team