Open-Source Vendors JBoss, MySQL Form Partnership

Open source software companies JBoss Group LLC and MySQL AB said Wednesday that they have formed a partnership to market each other's products and services.

The agreement was announced at the LinuxWorld conference in New York, where both companies have also unveiled enhancements to their product lines. JBoss makes an application server based on Java 2 enterprise standards, and MySQL offers an open-source database.

Both companies promote the use of their software on Linux, which has become an alternative to proprietary Unix and Windows Server operating systems. JBoss and MySQL offer their software for free, charging for consulting services and support.

As part of the alliance, JBoss will integrate its application server with MySQL's database servers, which the companies say will simplify development and deployment of web-based Java applications with open source technologies.

The announcement, however, was most significant as a business move on the part of MySQL, Nicholas Petreley, analyst for Evans Data Corp., said. From a developer's point of view, the announcement is less important, because programmers have been using JBoss with MySQL for a long time."I see it more as a business move, because MySQL is interested in the commercial end of the business as well as open source," Petreley said. "By funneling more money in to the process, they can make MySQL as popular with Java application servers as it already is with open source platforms."

The integration effort will include MySQL's namesake database and MaxDB, its SAP-certified database for running business applications built by the German software maker.

Both companies focus on enterprise developers in promoting their products, which the vendors claim can be deployed at a cost far less than proprietary technology.

"MySQL and JBoss are both committed to providing integrated solutions along with the professional services and support required to make low-cost, reliable open source software an even easier choice for business-critical environments," Marten Mickos, chief executive at MySQL, said in a statement.

Also at LinuxWorld, MySQL unveiled an administration tool that's designed with a graphical user interface for easier managing and monitoring of databases. JBoss, on the other hand, launched a full production version of its Java-based portal, called Nukes, which is available for free download from the company's web site.