• The Four Hundred
  • Subscribe
  • Media Kit
  • Contributors
  • About Us
  • Contact
Menu
  • The Four Hundred
  • Subscribe
  • Media Kit
  • Contributors
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • IBM Close to Delivering DB2/400 Storage Engine for MySQL

    October 14, 2008 Alex Woodie

    IBM is nearing completion of new software that will enable DB2/400 to power the open source MySQL database, according to industry sources. When complete, the new software will enable organizations that run PHP applications running on MySQL on i OS to access data stored in DB2/400, the i OS’s native database, without modifying MySQL or PHP. The software reportedly is in beta tests, with a formal announcement expected soon.

    IBM first noted its intention to deliver a so-called DB2/400 “storage engine” for MySQL more than a year ago, when it formally announced support for MySQL running on i5/OS V5R4. However, when pushed for specifics on the product–such as a delivery date–the company went mum. Months went by, and IBM still refused to talk about it, leading to speculation that the project had run into problems and would be dropped.

    Despite the silence from IBM and its development plans (which isn’t anything unusual), it appears that IBM and MySQL have actually built a storage engine that turns DB2/400 into the workhorse powering input and output to transactional MySQL applications. What’s more, IBM has begun showing off the product at industry events, and it apparently is nearly ready for a formal launch.

    IBM demonstrated the DB2 storage engine at the recent ZendCon conference, according to Jon Paris, a respected RPG developer. Writing to the Midrange L mailing list, Paris says: “IBM would not make any formal statements on availability except to note that it is currently in beta. I suspect there will be a formal announcement some time this month.”

    Another Midrange L poster spotted a suspicious looking PTF posted by IBM about 10 days ago that led him to believe the DB2 storage engine is nearing completion. The sharp eyes of Bryan Dietz found a PTF, SI33261/SI33264, which carried the title “OSP-DB-UNPRED Storage engine support.”

    Contacted to comment about the apparent unveiling of the DB2/400 storage engine for MySQL, IBM did not respond before this newsletter’s deadline.

    When it ships, the DB2/400 storage engine will join several other storage engines that plug into the MySQL database. MySQL, which was bought by Sun Microsystems earlier this year, is unique among relational databases in that it supports multiple database engines that allow the user to customize the database for specific tasks, such as running transactional applications, data warehouse programs, or in-memory business intelligence systems. While these engines do the heavy run-time lifting, the setup remains simple for programmers, who keep writing to the same MySQL API.

    Other supported MySQL database engines include Oracle‘s InnoDB, Solid Information Technology‘s SolidDB, NitroSecurity‘s NitroEDB, and Infobright‘s BrightHouse, among still others.

    Earlier this year, a French System i software company, AURA Equipments, released a product called iStorage for MySQL that it says connects DB2/400 with MySQL in the same manner as IBM planned with its storage engine.

    “We started iStorage development before IBM’s announcement,” said Julien Noiret, communication manager for AURA Equipments, back in January. “When IBM announced their wish to implement a storage engine for MySQL, we decided to hold the project. However, we noticed that nothing was coming, so we decided to finish it.”

    Hopefully now IBM is nearing the finish line for the DB2/400 for MySQL storage engine.

    RELATED STORIES

    AURA Equipments Beats IBM to the Punch with DB2/400 Engine for MySQL

    IBM Details MySQL on System i Offering

    MySQL Database Getting Closer Ties to the System i



                         Post this story to del.icio.us
                   Post this story to Digg
        Post this story to Slashdot

    Share this:

    • Reddit
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Tags:

    Sponsored by
    VISUAL LANSA 16 WEBINAR

    Trying to balance stability and agility in your IBM i environment?

    Join this webinar and explore Visual LANSA 16 – our enhanced professional low-code platform designed to help organizations running on IBM i evolve seamlessly for what’s next.

    🎙️VISUAL LANSA 16 WEBINAR

    Break Monolithic IBM i Applications and Unlock New Value

    Explore modernization without rewriting. Decouple monolithic applications and extend their value through integration with modern services, web frameworks, and cloud technologies.

    🗓️ July 10, 2025

    ⏰ 9 AM – 10 AM CDT (4 PM to 5 PM CEST)

    See the webinar schedule in your time zone

    Register to join the webinar now

    What to Expect

    • Get to know Visual LANSA 16, its core features, latest enhancements, and use cases
    • Understand how you can transition to a MACH-aligned architecture to enable faster innovation
    • Discover native REST APIs, WebView2 support, cloud-ready Azure licensing, and more to help transform and scale your IBM i applications

    Read more about V16 here.

    Share this:

    • Reddit
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Email

    Sponsored Links

    ARCAD Software:  October 22 Webcast! WDSc & RDi: Debugging with Don Yantzi
    BCD:  Presto instantly Web enables 5250 Green Screen Apps with NO RPG, Cobol or DDS code changes
    Vision Solutions:  A $20 gas card for completing a short i5/OS DR survey

    IT Jungle Store Top Book Picks

    Easy Steps to Internet Programming for AS/400, iSeries, and System i: List Price, $49.95
    Getting Started with PHP for i5/OS: List Price, $59.95
    The System i RPG & RPG IV Tutorial and Lab Exercises: List Price, $59.95
    The System i Pocket RPG & RPG IV Guide: List Price, $69.95
    The iSeries Pocket Database Guide: List Price, $59.00
    The iSeries Pocket Developers' Guide: List Price, $59.00
    The iSeries Pocket SQL Guide: List Price, $59.00
    The iSeries Pocket Query Guide: List Price, $49.00
    The iSeries Pocket WebFacing Primer: List Price, $39.00
    Migrating to WebSphere Express for iSeries: List Price, $49.00
    iSeries Express Web Implementer's Guide: List Price, $59.00
    Getting Started with WebSphere Development Studio for iSeries: List Price, $79.95
    Getting Started With WebSphere Development Studio Client for iSeries: List Price, $89.00
    Getting Started with WebSphere Express for iSeries: List Price, $49.00
    WebFacing Application Design and Development Guide: List Price, $55.00
    Can the AS/400 Survive IBM?: List Price, $49.00
    The All-Everything Machine: List Price, $29.95
    Chip Wars: List Price, $29.95

    SAP Hits a Wall at the End of September Displaying Multiple Results Sets in Run SQL Scripts

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Volume 8, Number 37 -- October 14, 2008
THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY:

ProData Computer Services
Bytware
MKS
Computer Keyes
RJS Software Systems

Table of Contents

  • IBM Close to Delivering DB2/400 Storage Engine for MySQL
  • PKS Provides the Missing Link from RPG to EGL
  • VAI Evolving Products to Meet Customers’ Future Needs
  • IBM Delivers New Storage Options for i
  • BlueWare Goes SaaS with i OS-Based Health Applications
  • ARCAD Goes Dutch with New Office
  • Bermuda Jobs Site Getting Noticed
  • Jack Henry’s New ‘Gladiator’ Watches for Security Threats
  • Computer Guidance Unveils eCMS 3.7
  • Aviva Updates 5250 Emulator for Windows Vista

Content archive

  • The Four Hundred
  • Four Hundred Stuff
  • Four Hundred Guru

Recent Posts

  • Liam Allan Shares What’s Coming Next With Code For IBM i
  • From Stable To Scalable: Visual LANSA 16 Powers IBM i Growth – Launching July 8
  • VS Code Will Be The Heart Of The Modern IBM i Platform
  • The AS/400: A 37-Year-Old Dog That Loves To Learn New Tricks
  • IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 27, Number 25
  • Meet The Next Gen Of IBMers Helping To Build IBM i
  • Looks Like IBM Is Building A Linux-Like PASE For IBM i After All
  • Will Independent IBM i Clouds Survive PowerVS?
  • Now, IBM Is Jacking Up Hardware Maintenance Prices
  • IBM i PTF Guide, Volume 27, Number 24

Subscribe

To get news from IT Jungle sent to your inbox every week, subscribe to our newsletter.

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Contributors
  • Four Hundred Monitor
  • IBM i PTF Guide
  • Media Kit
  • Subscribe

Search

Copyright © 2025 IT Jungle