The newly released version 5.5.8 is the first stable version of MySQL under the aegis of Oracle, Sun Group has taken over the side. The release is also the kick-off for Oracle, the open-source database primarily of web and embedded applications to market in the area. Oracle's core database is however particularly for enterprise applications like ERP, CRM, business intelligence and data warehouse for use occur. The Community Edition of the database is free under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Oracle also offers fee-based distributions to.

Version 5.5.x is in instead of the old MyISAM now the transactional and the Oracle-developed daughter Innobase InnoDB database engine as the default. It is much faster than the previous version of the engine supposedly worked. That is, among other more rollback segments and the use of asynchronous I / O under Linux due. Locks dedicated to individual tasks rather than the previously used global locks apparently lead to the conclusion that MySQL in many simultaneous connections to multi-core machines behave more stable now. Oracle wants the general reliability of semi-synchronous replication have improved. Oracle speaks of one to 15 times faster execution of data processing than the previous version of MySQL 5.1.

The database also introduced a new technology for connecting alternative authentication methods. So far used only an internal MySQL user management, so you have no Unix mechanisms, such as PAM or LDAP directory services such as application could be used for. Also new is "Proxy User", a MySQL user who only exists in the application's plug-and with the new GRANT PROXY user is assigned to another one. In authentication can be user names and passwords to pass on to another service, the MySQL server with a database then returns the user.