MySQL-DB2 Ties Tied; IBM Nixes Cloudscape Support

The MySQL database engine has added yet another storage engine to its list: IBM's DB2 running on the i5/OS operating system.

That operating system, previously known as OS/400, is the power behind the IBM iSeries machines, formerly known as the AS/400.

MySQL already supports a variety of storage "plug-ins", including its own MyISAM, Oracle's InnoDB and SolidDB.

The iSeries is a workhorse, and by all accounts the server retains a large installed base and loyal partner following, especially in the midmarket.

"We have hundreds of thousands of customers, and we like to provide choices. Many have asked to run open-source applications," said Craig Johnson, IBM's iSeries product manager.

As it stands now, IBM customers can download MySQL and run it on their iSeries hardware. The two companies are working on the MySQL-to-DB2 integration, which will be available later on.

"MySQL already supports pluggable storage architecture we intercept and code to that API," said Mike Smith, lead system architect for the iSeries.

Customers can get MySQL from the company's Web site or via IBM or its channel.

This is MySQL's first deal with IBM hardware, said Zack Urlocker, executive vice president of products at MySQL, Cupertino, Calif.

In other database news, IBM is discontinuing support for Cloudscape, the Java database it acquired along with Informix six years ago. An IBM post said the company will stop selling support for Version 10.0 and 10.1 as of June 14. IBM support will stop overall on Sept. 30, 2008.

An IBM spokesman said the reason for ending support is not nefarious. IBM released the Cloudscape code to the open-source community via the Apache Software Foundation in 2004, and the open-source effort has done very well, he said, adding that IBM simply was not asked for a lot of support.

The open-source iteration of Cloudscape is called Derby. Cloudscape has been embedded in a series of other IBM software products.

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