I'm replacing a very tired RedHat server that's been randomly dying lately with FreeBSD. One of the things that I need to install is MySql. The RH box runs MySql 3.23.54, which was current when the box was put in. I went to install MySql on FreeBSD and saw that there are ports for 3.23, 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1, and 5.5. OK - off to google I go.
After wading through a lot of flotsam (more-so than the invariable drivel turned up via online searches), I found a few pages commenting on the different versions. However, most of them are old and others aren't all that helpful. Some of the more interesting references I found follow.
The MySql Calendar indicates that active support for everything but 5.1 has ended. Extended support for 5.0 is still available.
A guide to installing MySql on FreeBSD recommends 4.1, but the article is from 2005-10 and that was the production release at the time.
OK, so I go with either 5.0 or 5.1, assuming that 5.5 is the development version because it's not on the MySql calendar? After reading a page that details the development process and overall quality of 5.1 and 5.0, I don't know if I want to go that way either.
A GUI for MySql indicates that a much larger percentage of people use 5.0 to 5.1 and 5.5 is well under 1%. This could be due to people not upgrading though.
Another unrelated project recommends using MySql 4.1 for use with it. This is just a recommendation for that specific project, but I find it interesting that there are so many later versions and they recommend 4.1. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it.
Basically, MySql is going to be used only for pretty basic stuff. I have a custom application that uses it, and it runs perfectly happily on 3.23 as it just executes standard SQL commands. I'm going to be installing bandersnatch to log Jabber Instant Messages (something that I was never able to make work right on RH), but there's no specific MySql version recommended. Stability and reliability are most important for this machine.
Does anybody have experience with the various versions of MySql and/or have advice as to what would be the best version for my application?
After wading through a lot of flotsam (more-so than the invariable drivel turned up via online searches), I found a few pages commenting on the different versions. However, most of them are old and others aren't all that helpful. Some of the more interesting references I found follow.
The MySql Calendar indicates that active support for everything but 5.1 has ended. Extended support for 5.0 is still available.
A guide to installing MySql on FreeBSD recommends 4.1, but the article is from 2005-10 and that was the production release at the time.
OK, so I go with either 5.0 or 5.1, assuming that 5.5 is the development version because it's not on the MySql calendar? After reading a page that details the development process and overall quality of 5.1 and 5.0, I don't know if I want to go that way either.
A GUI for MySql indicates that a much larger percentage of people use 5.0 to 5.1 and 5.5 is well under 1%. This could be due to people not upgrading though.
Another unrelated project recommends using MySql 4.1 for use with it. This is just a recommendation for that specific project, but I find it interesting that there are so many later versions and they recommend 4.1. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it.
Basically, MySql is going to be used only for pretty basic stuff. I have a custom application that uses it, and it runs perfectly happily on 3.23 as it just executes standard SQL commands. I'm going to be installing bandersnatch to log Jabber Instant Messages (something that I was never able to make work right on RH), but there's no specific MySql version recommended. Stability and reliability are most important for this machine.
Does anybody have experience with the various versions of MySql and/or have advice as to what would be the best version for my application?
