4.4 Examination of MySQL Data Warehousing TCO

4.4 Examination of MySQL Data Warehousing TCO

One of the driving factors that can be attributed to the popularity and adoption of open source database software in business today is the dramatic cost savings that accompanies owning such software. Open source is a much smarter way of producing and maintaining high quality software than traditional, proprietary methods, with the approach having a benefit of being able to

keep costs low.

Customers who choose MySQL typically save 90% of the license, maintenance, and support costs over the expenses incurred from using proprietary databases. As the CEO of RightNow, a large CRM provider, has observed:

"Using MySQL and other open source technologies, RightNow has built an enterprise-class CRM

application hosting environment that supports over 3,000 deployments for some of the world's

largest organizations. Our systems have facilitated over 1 billion customer interactions on behalf

of our clients while maintaining reliability at or above 99.97 percent. Money spent on proprietary databases, when there is a viable open source alternative, is money wasted.“ - Greg Gianforte, CEO and founder of RightNow.

A sample of the cost comparisons between using MySQL and other proprietary platforms follows (using the default settings of the ROI calculator on the MySQL web site):