At LinuxWorld Expo: MySQL, JBoss in deal

• By Jack Vaughan
• January 22, 2004

NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Application servers are often associated with database servers. IBM, Oracle and Microsoft are especially evident examples. As open-source software matures, better links between open-source app servers and open-source database servers may gain appeal. With that in mind, The JBoss Group LLC, Atlanta, and MySQL Inc., Seattle, have formed a strategic alliance to create a service solution linking their respective app server and DB server offerings.

Announced at LinuxWorld Expo, the companies' alliance includes integration of the open-source JBoss application server with MySQL's database servers to simplify development and deployment. The companies will jointly market their respective products and services.

The two companies have like goals, said Marc Fleury, president and co-founder of JBoss. "We've admired what MySQL has done in open source." He said he prefers to use the terms "professional open source" or "managed open source" to describe the service-based approach that both companies bring to end users trying to migrate to Linux, which is known for frequent revs, and, like all OSs, occasional patches.

The alliance may have grown out of a joint customer engagement with Sterling Commerce Inc., Dublin, Ohio. Sterling is using JBoss and MySQL as part of the Gentran Integration Suite for EDI.

MySQL also launched a new set of open-source administrative tools for MySQL DB at LinuxWorld Expo. MySQL Vice President of Marketing Zack Urlocker said users could look for added development tools, and new clustering capabilities later this year as well.

In the background are other important recent moves that push open-source app servers forward. Notable among these is Linux OS leader, Raleigh, N.C.-based Red Hat's efforts to roll out an application server offering atop their Linux operating system.

For more Linux news, go to ADT LinuxWorld News Page