By Linda Leung, VNU Net
Progress Software has set up a unit called Nusphere to
distribute the open source MySQL database.
Nusphere will operate as part of the database tools company
and will sell support services for MySQL. The open source
database is aimed at organisations building web infrastructures,
but unlike transactions-based databases such as those from Oracle
and IBM, MySQL provides back-end services to websites.
It enables sites to monitor traffic and users to personalise
content, as well as helping to authenticate and authorise visitors.
According to Progress, the database, which was developed by a team
of programmers in Finland and Sweden, is used by 40 per cent of
organisations that use the Linux operating system. These include
Silicon Graphics, Yahoo and Linux.com.
Britton Johnston, vice president of development and marketing at
Progress, said: “MySQL is focused on web infrastructures providing
services through integration with Apache web server, Perl and PHP.”
Perl is a script programming language, and PHP a language to create
dynamic web pages.
At the end of the summer, Nusphere will begin distributing MySQL
through Progress’ offices in the Netherlands, the US and Australia.
The unit will initially be staffed by 12 people.