HP now selling MySQL Network

Hewlett-Packard (HP) is now reselling support services for MySQL AB's open-source database, an HP spokeswoman has confirmed.

Under the terms of the deal, HP is selling MySQL Network directly to their customers. MySQL introduced the network in February as a subscription offering that includes certified software updates, technical support and indemnification for enterprise customers using the MySQL database. A customer can choose from three levels of service -- silver, gold and platinum -- and the cost ranges from $595 per year to $5,000 per year depending on the level of service a customer buys.

MySQL is certified to run on HP's ProLiant and Integrity servers, including its ProLiant blades. All the servers run both Linux and Windows, and the Integrity line also runs HP-UX. However, HP's deal with MySQL is for Linux-based servers only, according to the HP spokeswoman.

MySQL has been lining up major IT companies to resell services and support for its database. Last week at the Linuxworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco, the company unveiled similar reseller agreements with both Dell Inc. and Novell Inc.

MySQL Chief Executive Officer Marten Mikos, said that his company's trend to partner with industry heavyweights positions MySQL well to meet the growing demand for open-source software.

"As more and more mainstream customers want to use open-source databases, we have made ourselves ready for this ... by partnering with giants who can act as sales channels," Mikos said.

HP has partnered with MySQL since June of 2004 when it first certified the MySQL database to run on its servers. According to HP, it was the first hardware company to certify, integrate and support popular open-source software such as MySQL and JBoss Inc.'s open-source application server.

The MySQL Network contract that was signed in June of 2005 but never formally announced by the companies, the HP spokeswoman said.

(Robert McMillan in San Francisco contributed to this report.)