MySQL AB Supports Multiple .NET Interfaces

UPPSALA, Sweden - (September 4, 2002) - MySQL AB, developer of the world's most popular Open Source database, today announced that it now supports multiple interfaces to the MySQL database server from Microsoft .NET, a development environment designed for application development across disparate devices and platforms. MySQL's early integration with .NET lets MySQL developers be some of the first to take advantage of this popular platform to significantly reduce the time and cost of developing client-server applications.

"We are always pleased to support innovative solutions that help the MySQL developer stay ahead of the curve," said Monty Widenius, MySQL AB co-founder and CTO. "Through the work of the MySQL user community, several .NET interface solutions have rapidly emerged, making MySQL-based application development in a Windows environment now that much faster and easier. These new interfaces augment the already extensive selection of interfaces and add-ons that make MySQL an extremely versatile database to work with."

Microsoft .NET is a set of Microsoft software technologies designed for connecting information, people, systems, and devices. It enables software integration through the use of XML Web services: small, discrete, building-block applications that connect to each other-as well as to other, larger applications-via the Internet. .NET-connected software can deliver what developers need to create XML Web services and stitch them together.

MySQL can be tightly integrated with .NET applications via several different interfaces: an ODBC solution, two fast native solutions and an OLEDB solution. For a detailed tutorial on how to access MySQL from the .NET environment, please go to www.mysql.com/articles/dotnet/.

MyODBC Driver

The MySQL MyODBC driver is based on the ODBC industry standard interface for accessing any database, and can now be used in a .NET environment to access the MySQL database through ODBC.NET, a data provider that is an add-in component to the Microsoft .NET Framework. MyODBC is designed for ease of use and maximum interoperability, as it lets a single application access different database management systems with the same source code.

The MySQL MyODBC driver can be downloaded from the MySQL web site at http://www.mysql.com/products/myodbc/index.html. For general information on the MyODBC driver please go to http://www.mysql.com/downloads/api-myodbc.html.

ADO.NET Solutions: dbProvider and MySQLNet Provider

Two .NET managed providers are available to help MySQL users develop applications in a .NET environment using a fast native solution. The two providers are db Provider and MySQLNet.

dbProvider delivers high performance, solid reliability, and a natural interface to .NET. dbProvider implements the ADO.NET managed provider interface, so it behaves exactly like Microsoft's SqlClient and OledbClient providers. Users have the familiar Connection, Command, DataAdapter and DataReader classes, just as they would with SQL Server.

dbProvider is a contributed proprietary API sold under a commercial license. Therefore, users must buy a commercial license of MySQL when they use the database in conjunction with dbProvider. For more information about dbProvider, please go to http://www.einfodesigns.com/products.aspx.

MySQLNet Provider is an Open Source .NET provider for MySQL, which is available under the General Public License (GPL). It is the only Open Source, completely-managed ADO.Net driver for MySQL. MySQLNet Provider is still in development. For more information about MySQLNet Provider, please go to http://sourceforge.net/projects/mysqlnet/.

MyOLEDB Provider

An OLEDB .NET solution is also available for MySQL users. Developers can use the OLEDB.NET provider interface to explore MySQL through the MyOLEDB Provider.

For more information about how to set up and develop applications using OLEDB.NET, please refer to the reference manual that comes with the Microsoft Framework software development kit at http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?URL=/code/topic.asp?URL=/msdn-files/028/000/123/topic.xml. MyOLEDB is not officially supported by MySQL.

For more information about Microsoft .NET, please go to www.microsoft.com/net/.

For more information on the Open Source implementation of the .NET Development Framework, please go to http://www.go-mono.com/index.html.

About MySQL AB

MySQL AB develops, markets and supports the MySQL database server, the world's most popular Open Source database. With an estimated four million installations and up to 20,000 downloads per day, MySQL is the de facto Open Source database leader and is quickly becoming the core of many high-volume, business-critical applications. Major corporations such as Yahoo!, Lucent Technologies, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, Motorola, NASA, Silicon Graphics, HP, Xerox and Cisco rely on the ultra-fast, highly-reliable MySQL database. MySQL is available under the Free Software/Open Source GNU General Public License (GPL) or a non-GPL commercial license. For more information about MySQL, please go to www.mysql.com.

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MySQL is a registered trademark of MySQL AB in Sweden and is a trademark of MySQL AB in the USA and other countries. Other products mentioned are the trademarks of their respective corporations.