MySQL - NOT MariaDB

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Cougar281
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MySQL - NOT MariaDB

Post by Cougar281 » 2017/01/31 07:17:49

I am trying to get a LAMP server set up for a 3rd party service. Recently, it seems 'MariaDB' has 'eclipsed' MySQL for reasons I don't understand. From what I gather, MariaDB is maintained by a much smaller base, and the future is unknown. That said, the application I want to install specified MySQL, so I want to install MySQL and ONLY MySQL. I though I had that accomplished after searching the web and supposedly installing MySQL, only to find references to 'MariaDB' after trying to install the PHP-MySQL component.

Since the application I want to install specifically specifies 'MySQL', I do NOT want to install 'MariaDB'. I get it - MariaDB is *supposed* to be equal to MySQL - but because it is a fork, as time goes on, the likelihood for differences increases, and because it's new and not maintained by a large base or company, while it may continue and thrive (and continue to diverge from MySQL), on the other hand, it may die on the vine.

Here's the problem. RIGHT NOW, MariaDB may be functionally equal to MySQL. If MySQL is recommended, MaraiaDB may work 100% in its place. But because it is a fork, and because it it maintained by a smaller community, because of these two things alone, anything that specifies MySQL as the DB engine CANNOT be guaranteed to be compatible with MaraiaDB as time goes on. This means that anyone that used MaraiDB instead of MySQL (when MySQL was specified), or if MySQL can be 'upgraded' to MariaDB by way of system updates, has the potential to have problems down the road, should MySQL and MariaDB diverge enough, or should MariaDB die.

Just my opinion, but when you a run a 'yum install mysql', you should get one of two things: MySQL ACTUALLY INSTALLED (Not 'MariaDB in its place), or an option saying 'MySQL has been (forked/updated/superseded/whatever) by MariaDB - do you want to install MariaDB instead - Y/n' and if 'n' is selected, MySQL is installed and MaraiDB is gone from the references on the server. Frankly, MySQL and MariaDB should be on the same grounds a Microsoft SQL and Oracle SQL. They may be the same in some ways, but they are not - if Oracle SQL is specified, Oracle SQL needs to be used. If Microsoft SQL is specified, Microsoft SQL needs to be used.

Simply put: 'yum install MySQL' should equal MySQL getting installed, the only deviation from that being a 'MaraiaDB is a fork/update/successor, press y to install instead' prompt when trying to install MySQL - if 'n' is selected, then 'MaraiaDB' is forgotten and it's MySQL all the way.

Any suggestions on how I can COMPLETELY nuke any references to 'MariaDB' and restore 'old school' references to MySQL, so that I can get the ACTUAL MySQL installed, and don't have to worry about any portion of a MySQL install being 'upgraded' to 'MariaDB', thus possibly breaking my server?

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TrevorH
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Re: MySQL - NOT MariaDB

Post by TrevorH » 2017/01/31 10:23:52

Almost ALL Linux distros now ship mariadb in preference to mysql. CentOS is not alone in this.
The future appears to be RHEL or Debian. I think I'm going Debian.
Info for USB installs on http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/InstallFromUSBkey
CentOS 5 and 6 are deadest, do not use them.
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MartinR
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Re: MySQL - NOT MariaDB

Post by MartinR » 2017/01/31 11:42:44

You might want to have a read of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MariaDB and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySQL, particularly the sections https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySQL#Leg ... quisitions and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MariaDB#Prominent_users. Your assumption that MariaDB is "not maintained by a large base or company" is shaky; companies such as SuSE, Red Hat and Intel are hardly small fry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_acquisition_by_Oracle explains the background. Bear in mind that MySQL was seen as a major competitor, and the only open source competitor, to Oracle's own database. It is also interesting to see how DECrdb was acquired and, whilst still supported, Oracle changed the licensing model from a bundled (ie free) run-time to a licensable (ie charged) approach. There is a real fear that MySQL might go the same way, particularly if extensions are closed source. As a final couple of points to ponder look on the same page at OpenOffice and the Sun Grid Engine.

Cougar281
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Re: MySQL - NOT MariaDB

Post by Cougar281 » 2017/01/31 18:06:10

TrevorH wrote:Almost ALL Linux distros now ship mariadb in preference to mysql. CentOS is not alone in this.
Yes, I know - I also encountered it on Ubuntu. I posted about it here because I generally prefer CentOS for Linux applications over other Distros and that' what I'm trying to build the server on.
MartinR wrote:You might want to have a read of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MariaDB and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySQL, particularly the sections https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySQL#Leg ... quisitions and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MariaDB#Prominent_users. Your assumption that MariaDB is "not maintained by a large base or company" is shaky; companies such as SuSE, Red Hat and Intel are hardly small fry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_acquisition_by_Oracle explains the background. Bear in mind that MySQL was seen as a major competitor, and the only open source competitor, to Oracle's own database. It is also interesting to see how DECrdb was acquired and, whilst still supported, Oracle changed the licensing model from a bundled (ie free) run-time to a licensable (ie charged) approach. There is a real fear that MySQL might go the same way, particularly if extensions are closed source. As a final couple of points to ponder look on the same page at OpenOffice and the Sun Grid Engine.
That may all be true and good, but my overall point stands - If someone initiates 'yum install MySQL', they should get 'MySQL'. Not MariaDB. If the people maintaining the distros and repos want to have something that offers MariaDB instead of MySQL, so that the user can decline it and get MySQL - That's fine but one should not have to jump through hoops to get MySQL.

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TrevorH
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Re: MySQL - NOT MariaDB

Post by TrevorH » 2017/01/31 19:46:56

But... if all distros are using mariadb then everyone will end up using it and developing against it. That's just as likely an outcome.
The future appears to be RHEL or Debian. I think I'm going Debian.
Info for USB installs on http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/InstallFromUSBkey
CentOS 5 and 6 are deadest, do not use them.
Use the FAQ Luke

Cougar281
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Re: MySQL - NOT MariaDB

Post by Cougar281 » 2017/01/31 20:23:32

TrevorH wrote:But... if all distros are using mariadb then everyone will end up using it and developing against it. That's just as likely an outcome.
Eventually, maybe - but it certainly wouldn't be overnight.

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TrevorH
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Re: MySQL - NOT MariaDB

Post by TrevorH » 2017/01/31 21:29:32

The future appears to be RHEL or Debian. I think I'm going Debian.
Info for USB installs on http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/InstallFromUSBkey
CentOS 5 and 6 are deadest, do not use them.
Use the FAQ Luke

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