Websites using MariaDB

Okay, let s break down MariaDB, covering its overview, revenue (though a bit tricky), alternatives, pricing, and customer care details.

MariaDB Overview

MariaDB is a popular open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that is a fork of MySQL. It was created by some of the original developers of MySQL after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems (MySQL s parent company). The main goal was to ensure that a free and open-source version of MySQL would remain available and free from potential Oracle control.

• Key Features:

  • Open Source: Released under the GPL license.
  • Compatibility: Designed to be a drop-in replacement for MySQL in many cases. Most applications, libraries, and tools that work with MySQL will work with MariaDB.
  • Performance: Often cited as having performance improvements over MySQL, especially in certain workloads (e.g., handling many connections). Includes optimizations and storage engines not found in MySQL.
  • Storage Engines: Supports a variety of storage engines, including:
    • InnoDB (the default, also in MySQL)
    • XtraDB (a performance-enhanced version of InnoDB)
    • MyRocks (optimized for write-intensive workloads)
    • ColumnStore (for analytics and data warehousing)
    • Aria (designed for complex queries)
  • Scalability: Can scale to handle large databases and high traffic loads.
  • Security: Focuses on security enhancements.
  • Replication: Supports various replication methods for high availability and disaster recovery.
  • JSON Support: Provides robust JSON support for working with semi-structured data.
  • GIS: Supports geographical data types.
  • Community and Enterprise Versions: Available in both community (free) and enterprise (paid) versions.
  • Cloud Offerings: Offered as a managed database service on various cloud platforms (e.g., Amazon RDS for MariaDB, Google Cloud SQL for MariaDB, Azure Database for MariaDB).
  • Developed in C, C++ and Perl

• Use Cases:

  • Web applications
  • E-commerce platforms
  • Content management systems (CMS)
  • Data warehousing
  • Logging
  • Any application requiring a robust relational database.

Revenue

MariaDB Corporation Ab (the company behind MariaDB) generates revenue through the following channels:

• Enterprise Subscriptions: These provide access to enterprise-grade features, support, and services. This is their primary revenue source.
• Consulting: MariaDB Corporation offers consulting services to help organizations design, implement, and manage their MariaDB deployments.
• Training: They provide training courses to help developers and administrators learn how to use MariaDB effectively.
• Cloud Service: MariaDB SkySQL is a database-as-a-service (DBaaS) offering that provides managed MariaDB instances in the cloud. This is another source of recurring revenue.

It s difficult to provide an exact revenue figure for MariaDB Corporation. They are a privately held company and do not publicly release detailed financial statements. However, industry estimates suggest they are a significant player in the database market, with revenue in the tens of millions of dollars annually.

Alternatives to MariaDB

• MySQL: The original database from which MariaDB forked. Still widely used. Owned by Oracle. The main difference is the licenses and feature additions that MariaDB has.
• PostgreSQL: Another popular open-source RDBMS. Known for its standards compliance, extensibility, and advanced features.
• Oracle Database: A commercial RDBMS from Oracle. A very powerful database system.
• Microsoft SQL Server: A commercial RDBMS from Microsoft. Strong integration with the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Amazon Aurora: A MySQL and PostgreSQL-compatible RDBMS offered as a managed service on AWS.
• Google Cloud SQL: Offers managed MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server instances on Google Cloud.
• IBM Db2: A commercial RDBMS from IBM.
• SQLite: A lightweight, embedded database engine. Suitable for applications with local data storage needs.
• NoSQL Databases: For different data models and use cases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis, Couchbase).
• ClickHouse: An open-source, column-oriented database management system that is known for its ability to process queries on large datasets.

Pricing

MariaDB has a tiered pricing structure based on the level of support, number of servers, and features required. It comes in Community, Enterprise, and Cloud versions.

• Community Edition: Free and open source. You can download and use it without paying any fees. However, you don t get commercial support.
• Enterprise Subscription: Commercial subscriptions are based on the number of servers/cores/instances and the level of support required. The price depends on the size of the infrastructure.
• SkySQL: MariaDB SkySQL is a DBaaS (Database as a Service) and is a cloud offering that is based on the resources used (CPU, memory, storage, network traffic). SkySQL pricing is based on a pay-as-you-go model.

To get an accurate price, you ll need to contact MariaDB Corporation directly and describe your specific needs.

Customer Care Details

MariaDB offers customer care through various channels, depending on the subscription level:

• Community Support:

  • MariaDB Knowledge Base: Extensive documentation and articles.
  • MariaDB Community Forums: Online forums where users can ask questions and share knowledge.
  • Stack Overflow: A popular Q&A website where you can find answers to MariaDB-related questions.

• Enterprise Support:

  • Dedicated Support Team: Enterprise subscribers get access to a dedicated support team.
  • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Guaranteed response times and service availability.
  • Phone and Email Support: Direct communication with support engineers.
  • Remote Assistance: Support engineers can remotely access and troubleshoot your MariaDB systems (with your permission).
  • 24/7 Support: Available for critical issues, depending on the SLA.

• SkySQL Support:

  • Dedicated Support Team: Subscribers get access to a dedicated support team.
  • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Guaranteed response times and service availability.
  • Web console: Provides access to support resources, documentation, and FAQs.

How to Contact MariaDB Corporation:

• Website: https://mariadb.com/
• Contact Form: You can find a contact form on their website to request information or support.
• Phone: Phone numbers are usually provided to customers with enterprise support subscriptions.
• Social Media: They are active on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn.

In Summary

MariaDB is a robust, open-source RDBMS with a strong community and commercial support options. Its compatibility with MySQL makes it a popular choice for organizations looking for a cost-effective and reliable database solution. While its exact revenue figures are not public, it s a significant player in the database market. The pricing depends on the selected options, and the quality of customer care depends on the subscription plan.