MySQL Enterprise FAQ

MySQL Enterprise

1. What is MySQL Enterprise?
2. Can I buy MySQL Enterprise subscriptions for multiple years?
3. Can I buy MySQL Enterprise subscriptions for only some of my production MySQL database servers?
4. Do all my MySQL Enterprise subscriptions need to be at the same tier?
5. What if I plan to add more MySQL servers to my MySQL Enterprise subscription?
6. How should I decide between MySQL Enterprise Basic, Silver, Gold and Platinum?
7. What is MySQL Enterprise Server?
8. What is MySQL Production Support?
9. Does MySQL Enterprise include 24x7 Technical Support?
10. Does MySQL Enterprise include Maintenance, Updates, and Upgrades?
11. Does MySQL Enterprise include Emergency Hot Fix Builds?
12. What is MySQL Consultative Support?
13. What is a Technical Account Manager?
14. Does MySQL provide IP (Intellectual Property) Indemnification?
15. What is the list of Supported Platforms?
16. Are there any Demo/Tutorials available for MySQL Enterprise?
17. Are there any MySQL Enterprise White Papers available?
18. Are there any Webinars available?
19. What is the pricing of MySQL Enterprise?
20. What is MySQL Enterprise Unlimited?
21. How do I get a 30-day trial on MySQL Enterprise?
22. How do I buy MySQL Enterprise?

MySQL Enterprise Monitor

1. What is MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
2. What MySQL Enterprise subscription levels include the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
3. What are the main features and related benefits of the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
4. What are the immediate benefits of implementing the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
5. What are the long-term benefits of the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
6. How is the MySQL Enterprise Monitor installed and deployed?
7. How is the Enterprise Monitor web application architected?
8. What makes MySQL Enterprise unique?
9. What versions of MySQL are supported by the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
10. What operating system platforms are supported by the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
11. How do I get the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?
12. What are the MySQL Enterprise Advisors and Advisor Rules?
13. Which Advisors and features are included under different MySQL Enterprise subscription levels?
14. Which set of Enterprise Advisors, Advisor Rules and features are best for my use of MySQL?
15. How are subscribers notified about the availability of new or updated MySQL Enterprise Monitor, MySQL Enterprise Advisors and Advisor Rules?

MySQL Query Analyzer

1. What is the MySQL Query Analyzer?
2. How is the MySQL Query Analyzer installed and enabled?
3. What overhead can I expect when the MySQL Query Analyzer is installed and enabled?
4. Can I leave the MySQL Query Analyzer enabled at all times?
5. What are the main features and benefits of the MySQL Query Analyzer?
6. What are the typical use cases of the MySQL Query Analyzer?
7. How are subscribers notified about updates to the MySQL Query Analyzer application components?
8. What makes the MySQL Query Analyzer unique?
9. How can I get the MySQL Query Analyzer?

MySQL Enterprise

1. What is MySQL Enterprise?

A: The MySQL Enterprise subscription is the most comprehensive offering of MySQL database software, services and production support to ensure your business achieves the highest levels of reliability, security and uptime.

MySQL Enterprise includes:

• MySQL Enterprise Server software, the most reliable, secure and up-to date version of the world’s most popular open source database
• MySQL Enterprise Monitor that continuously monitors your database and proactively advises you on how to implement MySQL best practices
• MySQL 24x7 Production Support with fast response times to assist you in the development, deployment and management of MySQL applications

MySQL Enterprise is available in 4 tiers (Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum). Learn More »

2. Can I buy MySQL Enterprise subscriptions for multiple years?

A: MySQL Enterprise subscriptions have duration of at least 1 year. Customers have the flexibility of choosing terms with multi-year durations. To purchase multi-year contracts, please Contact MySQL Sales »

3: Can I buy MySQL Enterprise subscriptions for only some of my production MySQL database servers?

A: When you choose MySQL Enterprise subscriptions, they must cover all database servers that power that specific application. To negotiate volume discounts, please Contact MySQL Sales »

4. Do all my MySQL Enterprise subscriptions need to be at the same tier?

A: MySQL Enterprise subscriptions must be at the same tier (Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum) for all database servers that power that specific application.

5. What if I plan to add more MySQL servers to my MySQL Enterprise subscription?

A: A great option is the MySQL Enterprise Unlimited offering that allows you cover an unlimited number of MySQL servers for a fixed, low price. Learn More »

6. How should I decide between MySQL Enterprise Basic, Silver, Gold and Platinum?

A: MySQL Enterprise subscriptions are available in 4 tiers, providing you the flexibility of choosing the capabilities and SLA that best meet your requirements. Learn More »

If you have questions and what to discuss your specific requirements, please Contact MySQL Sales »

7. What is MySQL Enterprise Server?

A: MySQL Enterprise Server software is the most reliable, secure and up-to-date version of MySQL for cost-effectively delivering E-commerce, Online Transaction Processing (OLTP), and multi-terabyte Data Warehousing applications. It is a fully integrated transaction-safe, ACID compliant database with full commit, rollback, crash recovery and row level locking capabilities. MySQL delivers the ease of use, scalability, and performance that has made it MySQL the world’s most popular open source database. Learn More »

9. What is MySQL Production Support?

A: Production Support consists of 4 components:

• Problem Resolution Support
• Consultative Support
• Knowledge Base
• Technical Account Manager (option)

MySQL Production Support gives you priority access with guaranteed response times to assist you with the development, deployment and management of your MySQL applications. Learn More »

10. Does MySQL Enterprise include 24x7 Technical Support?

A: MySQL Enterprise, at the Gold and Platinum tiers, includes 24x7 phone and email access to the MySQL Support Team. Learn More »

11. Does MySQL Enterprise include Maintenance, Updates, and Upgrades?

A: Yes. As long as you have a valid contract for MySQL Enterprise, you will receive all new MySQL Enterprise Server software releases including Software Maintenance, Updates, and Upgrades. The Software Update Service will automatically notify you of the new releases.

12. Does MySQL Enterprise include Emergency Hot Fix Builds?

A: MySQL Enterprise, at the Gold and Platinum tiers, gives you the ability to request an Emergency Hot Fix Build to fix issues not already fixed in a MySQL Rapid Update or MySQL Quarterly Service Pack.

13. What is MySQL Consultative Support?

A: MySQL Enterprise, at the Gold and Platinum tiers, includes Consultative Support. This is a proactive approach to support that is designed to help you avoid critical outages. MySQL Support Engineers advise you on how to properly design and tune your MySQL servers, schema, queries, and replication set-up to maximize performance and availability. Also, by taking the initiative to properly design and tune your MySQL database applications you can avoid having to purchase expensive hardware for your IT infrastructure. Learn More »

14. What is a Technical Account Manager?

A: MySQL Enterprise, at the Platinum tier, provides the option for a Technical Account Manager (TAM). The TAM is your advocate within MySQL, who proactively works to maximize your benefits from MySQL Support Services. Learn More »

15. Does MySQL provide IP (Intellectual Property) Indemnification?

A: MySQL Enterprise, at the Gold and Platinum tiers, has the option of IP Indemnification, for qualifying customers at no extra cost. This provides you with legal protection that you expect from enterprise software providers. Learn More »

16. What is the list of Supported Platforms?

A: MySQL Enterprise provides broad coverage in its list of Supported Platforms. Learn More »

16. Are there any Demo/Tutorials available for MySQL Enterprise?

A: Yes. Multiple self-running demos are available. Learn More »

17. Are there any MySQL Enterprise White Papers available?

A: Yes. Detailed architecture, technology, and business white papers are available. Learn More »

18. Are there any Webinars available?

A: Yes. MySQL provides regularly scheduled Live Webinars. Learn More »

MySQL also provides On-Demand Webinars to fit your schedule. These are recordings of previously held Live Webinars that you can replay at any time. Learn More »

19. What is the pricing of MySQL Enterprise?

A: The pricing model for MySQL Enterprise is based on two key components: per server and per year. MySQL Enterprise does not have artificial restrictions based on CPUs, Memory, Machine Size, or Named Users. MySQL Enterprise is available in 4 tiers (Basic, Silver, Gold and Platinum). Choose the tier that best meets your requirements and budget. Learn More »

20. What is MySQL Enterprise Unlimited?

A: MySQL Enterprise Unlimited is a unique offering that allows you to deploy an unlimited number of MySQL Enterprise Servers for the price of a single CPU of Oracle Enterprise Edition. Learn More »

21. How do I get a 30-day trial on MySQL Enterprise?

A: You can experience the MySQL Enterprise Monitor for 30 days by registering to receive an email with login instructions. Learn More »

22. How do I buy MySQL Enterprise?

A: For pricing and to buy MySQL Enterprise, visit the Online Shop »

For volume discounts or for more information, please Contact MySQL Sales »

MySQL Enterprise Monitor

1. What is MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: Included as part of a MySQL Enterprise subscription, the MySQL Enterprise Monitor is a distributed, web-based application that helps customers reduce downtime, tighten security and increase throughput of their MySQL servers by telling them about problems in their database applications before they occur. It is downloadable from the Enterprise Customer web site and is deployed within the safety of the customer datacenter.Learn More »

2. What MySQL Enterprise subscription levels include the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: The Enterprise Monitor is available under MySQL Enterprise subscription levels Silver, Gold and Platinum. Learn More »

3. What are the features and related benefits of the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: The MySQL Enterprise Monitor is like having a "Virtual DBA Assistant" at your side to recommend best practices to eliminate security vulnerabilities, improve replication, and optimize performance. For the complete features and benefits, visit the MySQL Enterprise Monitor Features and Benefits page.

4. What are the immediate benefits of implementing the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: Often MySQL installations are implemented with default settings that may not be best suited for specific applications or usage patterns. The MySQL Advisors go to work immediately in these environments to identify potential problems and proactively notify and advise DBAs on key MySQL settings that can be tuned to improve availability, tighten security, and increase the throughput of their existing MySQL servers

5. What are the long-term benefits of the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: Over time, the task of managing even medium-scale MySQL server farms becomes exponentially more complicated, especially as the load of users, connections, application queries, and objects on each MySQL server increases. The Enterprise Monitor continually monitors the dynamic security, performance, replication and schema relevant metrics of all MySQL servers, so as the number of MySQL continues to grow, DBAs are kept up to date on potential problems and proactive measures that can be implemented to ensure each server continues to operate at the highest levels of security, performance and reliability.

6. How is the MySQL Enterprise Monitor installed and deployed?

A: The Enterprise Monitor is powered by a distributed web application that is installed and deployed within the confines of the corporate firewall.

7. How is the Enterprise Monitor web application architected?

A: The Enterprise Monitor web application is comprised of 3 components:

• Service Agent: A lightweight C program that is installed on each of the monitored MySQL servers. Its purpose is to collect MySQL SQL and operating system metrics that allow the DBA to monitor the overall health, availability and performance of the MySQL server. The Service Agent is the only component within the application that touches or connects to the MySQL Server. It reports the data it collects via XML over HTTP to the centralized Service Manager.
• Service Manager: The main server of the application. The Service Manager manages and stores the data collections that come in from each service agent. It analyzes these collections using MySQL provided best practice Advisor rules to determine the health, security, availability and performance of each of the monitored MySQL Servers. The Service Manager also provides the content for the Enterprise Dashboard which serves as the client user interface for the distributed web application.
• Repository: A MySQL database that is used to stored data collections and application-level configuration data.

8. What makes MySQL Enterprise unique?

A: Of the products on the market that monitor MySQL, SQL code and OS specific metrics, the MySQL Enterprise Monitor is the only solution that is built and supported by the engineers at MySQL. Unlike other solutions that report on raw MySQL and OS level metrics, the MySQL Enterprise Monitor is designed to optimize the use of MySQL by proactively monitoring MySQL instances and providing notifications and “MySQL DBA expertise in a box” advice on corrective measures DBAs can take before problems occur.

9. What versions of MySQL are supported by the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: The MySQL Enterprise Monitor can be used to monitor MySQL versions 4.0 – 5.x.

10. What operating system platforms are supported by the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: The Enterprise Monitor Service Manager is fully supported on most current versions of Linux, Windows XP and Server Editions, Solaris and Mac OSX. The Service Agent supports any platform supported by the MySQL Enterprise server. For the complete list of MySQL Enterprise supported operating systems and CPUs, visit the Supported Platforms page.

11. How do I get the MySQL Enterprise Monitor?

A: The MySQL Enterprise Monitor is available for download to MySQL Enterprise customers at the Silver, Gold and Platinum subscription levels.

• To experience the MySQL Enterprise Monitor for 30 days, visit the Trial Subscription page
• To buy MySQL Enterprise, visit the Online Shop »

12. What are the MySQL Enterprise Advisors and Advisor Rules?

A: The MySQL Enterprise Advisors are a set of best practice guidelines for the optimal use of MySQL. Advisors are spread across database specific disciplines and are comprised of a set of MySQL Advisor Rules that proactively monitor all MySQL servers and report on database application problems before they occur. Each Advisor Rule provides a detailed overview of the problem it is designed to identify, advices on how to correct the problem, specifies commands to implement the recommended fix and links to additional resources for additional research into the issue at hand. Learn More »

13. Which Advisors and features are included under different MySQL Enterprise subscription levels?

A: For the complete list of the MySQL Enterprise Advisors that are available under each MySQL Enterprise subscription level, visit the Features page.

14. Which set of Enterprise Advisors, Advisor Rules and features are best for my use of MySQL?

A: The Enterprise Monitor Advisors and Advisor Rules are available at 3 MySQL Enterprise subscription tiers:
Choose MySQL Enterprise Silver if you need:

• Assurance you are running the most current, bug-free version of MySQL across all of your servers.
• Recoverability of your MySQL servers.
• The highest level of security for your MySQL servers.
• Monitoring of maximum or disallowed MySQL connections.
• Optimized startup configuration settings.

Choose MySQL Enterprise Gold, when you need everything in Silver, PLUS:

• Easy collection and detection of problematic SQL code running on your production or development systems.
• Insight and corrective advice on MySQL replication status, sync, and performance related issues.
• Auto detection and documenting of your Replication topologies.
• Advanced monitoring of your Replication and Scale-out environment.

Choose MySQL Enterprise Platinum, when you need everything in Gold, PLUS:

• Identification and advice on unplanned database and object level schema changes (Create, Alter, and Drop) across your MySQL servers.
• Proactive monitoring and advice on tuning the performance of your MySQL servers.

15. How are subscribers notified about the availability of new or updated MySQL Enterprise Monitor, MySQL Enterprise Advisors and Advisor Rules?

A: Customers will receive notifications of new and updated MySQL Enterprise Monitor and Advisors as they become available via the MySQL Enterprise Software Update Service. Notifications will be generated and sent based on the customer profile and the MySQL Enterprise subscription level.

MySQL Query Analyzer

1. What is the MySQL Query Analyzer?

A: The MySQL Query Analyzer allows DBAs, developers and system administrators to improve application performance by collecting, monitoring, and analyzing queries as they run on their MySQL servers. Learn More »

2. How is the MySQL Query Analyzer installed and enabled?

A: The Query Analyzer feature is installed with the Service Agent. It is enabled during agent installation and can be toggled between collection and pass-thru modes from the Query Analysis page of the Enterprise Monitor.

3. What overhead can I expect when the MySQL Query Analyzer is installed and enabled?

A: The average overhead when in active collection mode is in the 15-20% range. In pass-thru mode the overhead is minimal, weighing in at 1-5% on most MySQL systems of average load.

4. Can I leave the MySQL Query Analyzer enabled at all times?

A: We have customers who have the Query Analyzer enabled and collecting queries on their development and QA servers so they can tune their code and monitor the fixes as part of the development process. For production systems, Query collection and analysis can easily be toggled on when a slowdown occurs. To avoid collection mode overhead many users are using simple scripts to enable the Query Analyzer to sample queries during non-peak hours, typically during 30 minute windows. They can then view the collected queries using the date/time or interval filter options.

5. What are the main features and benefits of the MySQL Query Analyzer?

A: For the complete features and benefits, visit the MySQL Enterprise Monitor Features and Benefits page.

6. What are the typical use cases of the MySQL Query Analyzer?

A: The typical use cases for developers, DBAs and system administrators are:

• Developers – Monitor and tune application queries during development before they are promoted to production.
• DBAs and System Administrators – Identify problem SQL code as it runs in production and advise development teams on how to tune. This use case benefits the most from regular sampling of queries as they are running, most often during non-peak hours.

7. How are subscribers notified about updates to the MySQL Query Analyzer application components?

A: Customers will receive notifications of the MySQL Query Analyzer updates as they become available via the MySQL Enterprise Software Update and Alert Service. Notifications will be generated and sent based on the customer profile and the MySQL Enterprise subscription level.

8. What makes the MySQL Query Analyzer unique?

A: Other products (free, open source and commercial) that provide MySQL query monitoring are dependent on the MySQL Slow Query Log being enabled and available for sampling. While this provides some time savings over the DBA collecting and parsing the Log, the Slow Query Log comes with overhead and does not capture sub millisecond executions. The log data also grows very large very quickly.
The MySQL Query Analyzer collects queries and execution statistics with no dependence on the SQL Query Log, it captures all SQL statements sent to the MySQL server and provides an aggregated view into the most expensive queries in number of executions and total execution time. It is also fully supported as part of the MySQL Enterprise subscription.

9. How can I get the MySQL Query Analyzer?

A: The MySQL Query Analyzer is available for download to MySQL Enterprise customers at the Gold and Platinum subscription levels.

• To experience the MySQL Enterprise Monitor for 30 days, visit the Trial Subscription page
• To buy MySQL Enterprise, visit the Online Shop »