Free database management system (DBMS). MySQL server is characterized by high speed, stability and ease of use, is the solution for small and medium-sized applications. In addition to Oracle Database is one of the fastest DBMS today. Distribution of MySQL database management system based on the GPL and high speed processing of requests has resulted in the database has become the de facto standard in network hosting services. Typically, MySQL is used as a server, which treated local or remote clients, but the distribution is a library internal server to include MySQL in the autonomous program, and perform sql queries. Flexibility DBMS MySQL supports a large number of types of tables: Users can choose vert fast table type MyISAM, supporting the full-text search, and a slow but very steady table InnoDB, supporting the transaction at the level of individual records. Moreover, the DBMS MySQL comes with a special type of table EXAMPLE, demonstrating the principles of creating new types of tables. Through an open architecture and the GPL-licensed, new types of tables are constantly created in the MySQL database management system.

MySQL Enterprise Server 5.1 delivers enterprise features, including:

• Partitioning to improve MySQL performance and management of very large database environments
• Row-based/Hybrid Replication for improved replication security
• Event Scheduler to create and schedule jobs that perform various database tasks
• XPath Support
• Dynamic General/Slow MySQL Query Log
• Performance/Load Testing Utility (mysqlslap)
• Full Text Search
• Archive engine (better compression, more features)
• User session and problem SQL identification
• MySQL embedded library (libmysqld)
• INFORMATION_SCHEMA objects
• Faster data import operations (parallel file load)
• ACID Transactions to build reliable and secure business critical applications
• Stored Procedures to improve developer productivity
• Triggers to enforce complex business rules at the MySQL database level
• Views to ensure sensitive information is not compromised
• Information Schema to provide easy access to MySQL metadata
• Pluggable Storage Engine Architecture for maximum MySQL flexibility
• Archive Storage Engine for historical and audit data

During installation on your computer will be installed three applications :

1) MySql Administrator – the software to administer a mysql database server.

2) MySql Query Browser – the software for the construction, execution and optimization of SQL queries.

3) MySql Migration Toolkit – software for the migration of your database in the MySql database server, creating a “snapshot” basis.

Firebird (Firebird SQL) – a powerful, compact, cross platform, a free database management system (DBMS), provides the most complete support standard ANSI SQL, running on Linux, Windows and various Unix platforms.

Firebird is a database server. Powerful, but at the same time, with minimum requirements for setup and administration, Firebird easily scalable from single applications to large corporate systems. One Firebird server can handle several independent databases, each with multiple user connections. And, not least, Firebird is a true open source, completely free from royalties, even for commercial use.

Features:

• Firebird has full support of Stored Procedures and Triggers
• Firebird has full ACID compliant transactions
• Referential Integrity
• Multi Generational Architecture (sometimes called MVCC)
• Firebird has very small footprint
• Firebird has fully featured internal language for Stored Procedures and Triggers (PSQL)
• Support for External Functions (UDFs)
• Little or no need for specialized DBAs
• Almost no configuration needed – just install and start using
• Big community and lots of places where you can get free and good support
• Optional single file embedded version – great to create CDROM catalogs, single user or evaluation versions of applications
• Firebird includes dozens of third party tools, including GUI administrative tools, replication tools, etc.
• Careful writes – fast recovery, no need for transaction logs
• Firebird has many ways to access your database: native/API, dbExpress drivers, ODBC, OLEDB, .Net provider, JDBC native type 4 driver, Python module, PHP, Perl, etc.
• Native support for all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Solaris, Mac OS.
• Incremental Backups
• 64-bit builds available
• Firebird has full cursor implementation in PSQL

MySQL offers standard database driver connectivity for using MySQL with applications and tools that are compatible with industry standards ODBC and JDBC. This enables MySQL to work easily(perform sql queries) with standard development tools on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and Unix platforms, such as Borland Builder C++, Delphi, Microsoft Access.Any system that works with ODBC or JDBC can use MySQL.

Connector/ODBC is a standardized database driver Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Unix platforms.