MySQL Buys Alzato, Clustering Technology

MySQL, based in Uppsala, Sweden, made its name offering databases under both the open-source General Public License and commercially. The integration of NDB Clusters from Alzato could make MySQL more attractive for high-end database applications requiring realtime performance and maximum uptime, the companies said.

The clustering technology scales up to 32 nodes and "will extend the cost-efficient scalability of MySQL to provide carrier-grade availability and high throughput in a clustered environment," said Marten Mickos, CEO of MySQL, in a statement. The MySQL database runs on Windows, Solaris and Netware operating systems, but the majority is on Linux

Earlier this year, the company took possession of the SAP DB, a database that had been offered by SAP.

The clustering technology will show up in the MySQL database next year, the companies said. Mainstream database players such as Oracle have characterized MySQL as complementary to their offerings, chiefly for use in noncritical applications. Even Mickos has agreed with their contentions. But many solution providers say MySQL already offers much of what most customers need at a fraction of Oracle, IBM or even Microsoft prices. The addition of clustering may fudge the line between it and the bigger databases even more, observers say.

This acquisition, along with IBM's buyout of CrossAccess and EMC's purchase of Documentum, shows that the bottleneck on mergers and acquisitions has been broken, at least for now. Observers say companies are now looking to bolster product and customer portfolios because they expect company valuations to rise.