Mainframes get open-source database

MySQL, the Swedish company that sells the open-source database of the same name, has released a version of its software for IBM's mainframe line.

The MySQL database made its way to IBM's zSeries mainframes via Linux, an operating system that now can be run on the high-end machines. The new version of MySQL is now available for download, and MySQL will show the product next week at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in New York.

Linux has breathed new life into the zSeries line, a decades-old, venerable family, but not one that's attracting new software the way Windows, Linux and Unix are. That new vitality stands to benefit not just IBM but also mainframe-software companies such as Computer Associates, BMC and StorageTek. IBM's Linux push also provided a route to mainframes for companies such as Veritas that previously weren't interested in moving their software to the systems.

MySQL for AIX, IBM's version of Unix and a close cousin to Linux, has been available for some time, but not in an official version. Now a supported version is available from MySQL, the company said.

The MySQL database software, commonly used to handle busy Web sites, is employed by Yahoo, Slashdot and Google, among other sites.