MySQL gets access to SAP database technology

MySQL plans to include enterprise-level technology from SAP in its own open source database, after announcing Tuesday the acquisition of rights to SAP’s database, SAP DB.

The two companies will work together to build the next-generation MySQL open source database based on both databases, MySQL said. Additionally, the vendors plan seamless interoperability between MySQL and SAP databases, enabling MySQL users to migrate between the high-performance MySQL database and the feature-rich SAP DB. Users can build applications that use both databases together.

MySAP is interested in incorporating SAP DB features such as stored procedures, triggers, views, and SQL syntax, said Marten Mickos, MySQL CEO.

“We will be able to take over features and designs from that database and implement them in MySQL so it’s actually speeding up our development process,” Mickos said.

The technology and cross-licensing agreement between the two companies calls for MySQL to rename SAP DB and provide it at no cost under a free software, GNU (General Public License) agreement. MySQL also will offer a commercial license for SAP DB for users that do not want to make their products open source-compliant, such as resellers.

MySQL will offer three database products: MySQL Classic, designed for Web sites, logging, and embedded use and featuring with fast read and write access and low overhead; MySQL Pro, adding high-performance database transaction support; and the renamed SAP DB.

Both MySQL and SAP will offer the enterprise-ready MySQL database. MySQL’s SAP-certified offering is for large SAP R3 ERP environments and other applications requiring enterprise-level relational database capabilities, according to MySQL. It is due in the fourth quarter of this year.

MySQL Classic costs $220 per server while MySQL Pro is priced at $440 per server. Pricing for the renamed SAP DB will be announced later.

In farming out development of SAP DB to MySQL, SAP is acting on a desire to no longer be in the database business, an SAP spokesman said.

“SAP obviously is a business applications company and for us to get into the database business probably doesn’t make that much sense,” he said.

SAP DB was an optional add-on product for SAP users that was released in October 2000, according to an SAP spokesman. The deal with MySQL is a technology partnership agreement, he said. “[SAP DB] doesn’t go away so much as it becomes enhanced. The naming convention will change,” the spokesman, who did not want his name to appear, said.

Existing customers will continue to receive support from SAP, he said.