Sun Microsystems Announces MySQL Cluster 7.0 for Real-Time, Mission-Critical Database Applications

Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAVA) today announced MySQL(TM) Cluster 7.0, a major new release of its high-availability open source database software for real-time, mission-critical applications. New features include significantly enhanced performance and scalability; support for popular LDAP directories; and simplified cluster back-up and maintenance. Information on MySQL Cluster 7.0 -- including downloads, evaluation guides, and performance benchmarks – is available now at http://www.mysql.com/cluster.

Today's announcement was made at the seventh annual MySQL Conference & Expo (http://www.mysqlconf.com) being held this week at the Santa Clara Convention Center. With more than 2,000 attendees, it is the world's largest community event for open source database developers, DBAs, vendors and corporate IT managers.

MySQL Cluster combines the world's most popular open source database with a fault tolerant "shared nothing” architecture, enabling organizations to deploy real-time mission-critical database applications reaching 99.999% ("five nines") availability. MySQL Cluster 7.0 can deliver predictable, millisecond response times while servicing tens of thousands of transactions per second. Support for in-memory and disk based data, automatic data partitioning with load balancing and the ability to add nodes to a running cluster with zero downtime allows almost unlimited database scalability to handle the most unpredictable workloads.

MySQL Cluster has been proven in some of the telecommunications and Web industries' toughest applications as a simple, low cost, low-risk and fast means to deploy mission-critical services. MySQL Cluster users include Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Cingular, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, France Telecom, Telenor and UTStarcom.

"We view MySQL Cluster Carrier Grade Edition as a strategic technology in our applications portfolio,” said Jeff Cortley, vice president, Subscriber Data Management, Alcatel-Lucent. "With MySQL Cluster CGE 7.0 we are enabling our customers to expose the rich capabilities of their networks to drive a long-tailed innovation model. As a result, the operator can leverage the creativity and agility of the Web ecosystem to deliver new compelling, personalized and targeted services to their subscribers without compromising reliability and scalability.”

"MySQL Cluster is the only true real-time database that combines the flexibility of a high availability relational database with the low total cost of ownership of open source,” said Karen Tegan Padir, vice president, MySQL and Software Infrastructure Group, Sun Microsystems. "This new version boasts a range of breakthrough capabilities designed to enable users to stay ahead of their most demanding and mission-critical application requirements – with faster time to market, lower cost and minimized risk. This major new release will be of great benefit for 'always-on' applications in the Telecommunications, Finance and Web 2.0 industries.”

MySQL Cluster 7.0 Features & Benefits

MySQL Cluster 7.0 features a number of new carrier-grade enhancements, including:

Significant Performance and Scalability Improvements

• Multi-Threaded Cluster Data Nodes -- provides over 4x (1) higher throughput on multi-core servers.
• Dynamic Scalability with On-Line Add-Node – allows users to add new nodes to a running cluster with zero downtime
• Large Record Handling – delivers approximately 2x (2) higher throughput
• Multi-Threaded Disk Data File Access – giving faster file access and response times

Expanded Platform Support & Interoperability

• Data Store for LDAP Directories – consolidating data stores with standard LDAP access / authentication protocol
• New support for development on Microsoft Windows (currently in alpha testing) – will provide more platform choice and flexibility for developers

Simplified Cluster Maintenance

• Back-Up Snapshot Options – consistent single snapshot of data across an enterprise

Supported Platforms & Availability

MySQL Cluster 7.0 is scheduled to be generally available this quarter under the GPL open source license for a range of popular operating systems, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SuSE Enterprise Linux Server, Solaris(TM) 10 Operating System, and Macintosh OS X.

Sun also offers commercial licensing, expert consulting, and technical support for MySQL Cluster. More information on MySQL Cluster 7.0 -- including downloads, evaluation guides, and performance benchmarks – is available now at http://www.mysql.com/cluster.

About Sun's MySQL Database

MySQL is the most popular open source database software in the world. Many of the world's largest and fastest-growing organizations use MySQL to save time and money powering their high-volume Web sites, critical business systems, communications networks, and commercial software. At www.mysql.com, Sun provides corporate users with commercial subscriptions and services, and actively supports the large MySQL open source developer community.

About Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems develops the technologies that power the global marketplace. Guided by a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer"(TM) -- Sun drives network participation through shared innovation, community development and open source leadership. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at http://sun.com

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, MySQL, Solaris, and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

(1) Results based on DBT2 benchmark running 4 x Data Nodes and 40 x MySQL Server nodes. MySQL Cluster 7.0.4 supported 251,490 Transactions Per Minute (TPM). MySQL Cluster 6.3.20 supported 58,415 TPM. FOUR x4450 Systems with 4 * Intel Xeon (106D1 family 6 model 29 step 1) six core processors at 2.66GHz, 24GB RAM, 4 * 1GB Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), 4 * 146 GB internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD), OpenSolaris. 8 cores per system used for running "Data Node" processes. 9 cores per systems used for running 3 MySQL server nodes per system. Additional Systems used for MySQL Server Nodes: TWO X4600 System with 8 * AMD (Authentic AMD 100F42 family 16 model 4 step 2) quad core processors at 2.7 GHz, 64GB RAM, 4 * 1GB GigE, 4 * 146 GB internal HDD, OpenSolaris. 9 MySQL Server nodes per system. One x4450 system with 4 * Intel Xeon(106D1 family 6 model 29 step 1) six core processor at 2.66GHz, 24GB RAM, 4 * 1GB Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), 4 * 146 GB internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD), OpenSolaris running 7 MySQL server nodes. One x4240 system with 2 * AMD Opteron (100F23 family 16 model 2 step 3) quad core at 2.3 GHz, 8GB RAM, 4 * 1GB Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), 4 * 146 GB internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD), OpenSolaris running 3 MySQL server nodes.

FOUR x4450 Systems with 4 * Intel Xeon(106D1 family 6 model 29 step 1) six core processors at 2.66GHz, 4 * 1GB Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), 4 * 146 GB internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD), OpenSolaris. 8 cores per system used for running "Data Node" processes. 16 cores per systems used for running 4 MySQL server per system in Solaris Zones environment with dedicated GigE interface.

Additional Systems used for MySQL Server Nodes:

TWO X4600 System with 8 * AMD (Authentic AMD 100F42 family 16 model 4 step 2) quad core processors at 2.7 GHz, 64GB RAM, 4 * 1GB GigE, 4 * 146 GB internal HDD, OpenSolaris. 8 MySQL Server nodes per system in Solaris Zones environment with dedicated GigE interface. One x4450 system with 4 * Intel Xeon(106D1 family 6 model 29 step 1) six core processor at 2.66GHz, 24GB RAM, 4 * 1GB Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), 4 * 146 GB internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD), OpenSolaris running 6 MySQL server nodes. One x4240 system with 2 * AMD Opteron (100F23 family 16 model 2 step 3) quad core at 2.3 GHz, 8GB RAM, 4 * 1GB Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), 4 * 146 GB internal Hard Disk Drive (HDD), OpenSolaris running 2 MySQL server nodes.

(2) See http://mikaelronstrom.blogspot.com/2008/11/impressive-numbers-of-next-gen-mysql.html, November 25^th, 2008