Introduction to MySQL
Description
Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we’ll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let’s get started!
Lois: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I’m Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs with Oracle University, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services.
Nikita: Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for joining us as we begin a new season of the podcast, this time focused on the basics of MySQL 8.4. If you’re a database administrator or want to become one, this is definitely for you. It’s also great for developers working with data-driven apps or IT professionals handling MySQL installs, configurations, and support.
Lois: That’s right, Niki. Throughout the season, we'll be delving into MySQL Enterprise Edition and covering a range of topics, including installation, security, backups, and even MySQL HeatWave on Oracle Cloud.
Nikita: Today, we're going to discuss the Oracle MySQL ecosystem and its various components. We’ll start by covering the fundamentals of MySQL and the different licenses that are available. Then, we’ll explore the key tools and features to boost data security and performance. Plus, we’ll talk a little bit about MySQL HeatWave, which is the cloud version of MySQL.
Lois: To take us through all of this, we’ve got Perside Foster with us today. Perside is a MySQL Principal Solution Engineer at Oracle. Hi Perside! For anyone new to MySQL, can you explain what it is and why it's so widely used?
Perside: MySQL is a relational database management system that organizes data into structured tables, rows, and columns for efficient programming and data management. MySQL is transactional by nature. When storing and managing data, actions such as selecting, inserting, updating, or deleting are required. MySQL groups these actions into a transaction. The transaction is saved only if every part completes successfully.
Lois: Now, how does MySQL work under the hood?
Perside: MySQL is a high-performance database that uses its default storage engine, known as InnoDB. InnoDB helps MySQL handle complex operations and large data volumes smoothly.
Nikita: For the unversed, what are some day-to-day applications of MySQL? How is it used in the real world?
Perside: MySQL works well with online transaction processing workloads. It handles transactions quickly and manages large volumes of transaction at once. OLTP, with low latency and high throughput, makes MySQL ideal for high-speed environments like banking or online shopping. MySQL not only stores data but also replicates it from a main server to several replicas.
Nikita: That's impressive! And what are the benefits of using MySQL?
Perside: It improves data availability and load balancing, which is crucial for businesses that need up-to-date information. MySQL replication supports read scale-out by distributing queries across servers, which increases high availability. MySQL is the most popular database on the web.
Lois: And why is that? What makes it so popular? What sets it apart from the other database management systems?
Perside: First, it is a relational database management system that supports SQL. It also works as a document store, enabling the creation of both SQL and NoSQL applications without the need for separate NoSQL databases. Additionally, MySQL offers advanced security features to protect data integrity and privacy.
It also uses tablespaces for better disk space management. This gives database administrators total control over their data storage. MySQL is simple, solid in its reliability, and secure by design. It is easy to use and ideal for both beginners and professionals. MySQL is proven at scale by efficiently handling large data volumes and high transaction rates.
MySQL is also open source. This means anyone can download and use it for free. Users can modify the MySQL software to meet their needs. However, it is governed by the GNU General Public License, or GPL. GPL outlines specific rules for its use. MySQL offers two major editions. For developers and small teams, the Community Edition is available for free and includes all of the core features needed. For large enterprises, the Commercial Edition provides advanced features, management tools, and dedicated technical support.
Nikita: Ok. Let’s shift focus to licensing. Who is it useful for?
Perside: MySQL licensing is essential for independent software vendors. They're called ISVs. And original manufacturers, they're called OEMs. This is because these companies often incorporate MySQL code into their software products or hardware system to boost the functionality and performance of their product. MySQL licensing is equally important for value-added resellers. We call those VARs. And also, it's important for other distributors.
These groups bundle MySQL with other commercially licensed software to sell as part of their product offering. The GPL v.2 license might suit Open Source projects that distribute their products under that license.
Lois: But what if some independent software vendors, original manufacturers, or value-add resellers don’t want to create Open Source products. They don’t want their source to be publicly available and they want to keep it private? What happens then?
Perside: This is why Oracle provides a commercial licensing option. This license allows businesses to use MySQL in their products without having to disclose their source code as required by GPL v2.
Nikita: I want to bring up the robust support services that are available for MySQL Enterprise. What can we expect in terms of support, Perside?
Perside: MySQL Enterprise Support provides direct access to the MySQL Support team. This team consists of experienced MySQL developers, who are experts in databases. They understand the issues and challenges their customers face because they, too, have personally tackled these issues and challenges.
This support service operates globally and is available in 29 languages. So no matter where customers are located, Oracle Support provides assistance, most likely in their preferred language. MySQL Enterprise Support offers regular updates and hot fixes to ensure that the MySQL customer systems stays current with the latest improvements and security patches.
MySQL Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This ensures that whenever there is an issue, Oracle Support can provide the needed help without any delay. There are no restrictions on how many times customers can receive help from the team because MySQL Enterprise Support allows for unlimited incidents.
MySQL Enterprise Support goes beyond simply fixing issues. It also offers guidance and advice. Whether customers require assistance with performance tuning or troubleshooting, the team is there to support them every step of the way.
Lois: Perside, can you walk us through the various tools and advanced features that are available within MySQL? Maybe we could start with MySQL Shell.
Perside: MySQL Shell is an integrated client tool used for all MySQL database operations and administrative functions. It's a top choice among MySQL users for its versatility and powerful features. MySQL Shell offers multi-language support for JavaScript, Python, and SQL. These naturally scriptable languages make coding flexible and efficient. They also allow developers to use their preferred programming language for everything, from automating database tasks to writing complex queries. MySQL Shell supports both document and relational models. Whether your project needs the flexibility of NoSQL’s document-oriented structures or the structured relationships of traditional SQL tables, MySQL Shell manages these different data types without any problems.
Another key feature of MySQL Shell is its full access to both development and administrative APIs. This ability makes it easy to automate complex database operations and do custom development directly from MySQL Shell. MySQL Shell excels at DBA operations. It has extensive tools for database configuration, maintenance, and monitoring. These tools not only improve the efficiency of managing databases, but they also reduce the possibility for human error, making MySQL databases more reliable and easier to manage.
Nikita: What about the MySQL Server tool? I know that it is the core of the MySQL ecosystem and is available in both the community and commercial editions. But how does it enhance the MySQL experience?
Perside: It connects with various devices, applications, and third-party tools to enhance its functionality. The server manages both SQL for structured data and NoSQL for schemaless applications. It has many key components. The parser, which interprets SQL commands. Optimizer, which ensures efficient query execution. And then the queue cache and buffer pools. They reduce disk usage and speed up access. InnoDB, the de
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