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I dont know whether this should be a GLEP or just a simple email, |
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but I'll start as an email.... |
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|
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GENERAL BACKGROUND: |
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-------------------------------------------- |
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Gentoo is being increasingly deployed in datacenter environments, especially |
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in multilayered apache/tomcat/mysql configurations. Many clients in the 10-25 |
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box range have decided to switch their infrastructure entirely to gentoo due to |
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satisfaction with gentoo's ease of configuration and overall lifetime flexibility with |
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key applications (no need to reinstall/make a major upgrade of the OS - and |
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no RPM hell). |
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|
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Recently, Mysql AB has released two new features/products: cluster support |
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and mysql network (a commercial support offering). As a consultant, I have |
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several clients looking to deploy both. However, the clients are worried that |
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they are going to be forced to switch their DB layers to redhat to ensure stability |
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and support. Mysql also participates in TSA Network such that any mysql server |
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issues could be reported to them and multiple vendors including dell, redhat, and mysql |
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would all work together to resolve problems. Dell has just launched a mysql support |
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program at http://www.dell.com/mysql. |
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|
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|
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RECENT ACTIONS |
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-------------------------------- |
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I had multiple discussion with mysql representatives at the mysql users conference |
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this week in Santa Clara. Mysql initially had a two faced response: They would try |
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to support all their customers to the extent possible due to a strong commitment |
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to no bugs in their code, however the more complex your mysql configuration was |
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the more they wanted you to be on a certified platform (which involves mysql building |
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a test environment and putting it through extensive regression testing for a period of |
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time, they have contracted out with a third party testing company to do this for each |
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platform and some hardware configurations). They didn't know how they could do |
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this to gentoo based on the fact that one person's gentoo was different than anothers. |
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I was told that at least three individuals: Andy Bang (Marketing VP, manager mysql network), |
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Arjen(sp?) (Community Relations), and Brian Akker(sp?) would all have to approve adding |
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a new platform. |
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|
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During the conference I spoke with Andy and Arjen about gentoo discussion regarding |
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creating a server profile, and at least locking key libraries for six month intervals. Mysql |
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also told me they were receiving many requests for gentoo support, and if gentoo |
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could get a server profile setup, they would be interested in supporting it - as it would make |
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their gentoo users happy and provide additional income via mysql network. So, there |
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appears to be a deal that can be reached here. I will try to speak with Brian Akker and |
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any other individuals at mysql next week to confirm an agreement. |
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|
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Last night, I broached the idea on the gentoo-dev channel and suggested that if the |
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generic server profile wasn't ready - I should at least be able to create a specific |
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profile dedicated to commercial mysql support. Others seemed to agree, although |
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a few technical issues were brought up and which would need to be resolved. I was |
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also told to confer with gentoo-releng before starting any new profile work. |
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|
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I also posted a question about the server profile status to gentoo-server, but there wasn't |
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a substantive response and after 1-2 years of waiting, I'm not sure I want to depend on it. |
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(the above isn't meant to slam it, it's just that my clients can't wait any longer). |
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|
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I messeged wolf31o2 and he seemed ammenable, but asked that an email be sent out |
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and this is that email. |
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|
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PROPOSAL: |
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-------------------- |
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Creation of a "commercial/amd64/mysql" profile under /usr/portage/profiles. The directory structure |
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is setup so that any other developers could create dedicated profiles for similiar commercial |
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support w/o cluttering up the tree. Everything would be under /usr/portage/profiles/commercial. |
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|
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I would initially use default-linux/amd64/2005.0/no-multilib as the base for modification as this is what I |
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currently use on our servers. |
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|
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After submitting the new profile and testing it, I would create online documentation that both gentoo and |
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mysql could reference to and provide ongoing maintenance for the profile- but would avoid making any |
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significant changes other than at 6-12 month intervals. |
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|
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As for the mysql installation itself on these boxes, these would be binaries provided by mysql for two reasons: |
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|
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1) Mysql binaries are compiled with icc which could provide significant performance gains for the targeted user base. |
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Untill icc is fully compatible with portage, I'd rather avoid installing icc myself on customer boxes. |
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|
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2) Mysql would prefer their own binaries for certification. |
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|
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|
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Regards, |
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MattM |
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-- |
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