MySQL has an interesting architecture that sets it apart from some other enterprise database systems. It allows you to plug in different modules to handle storage. What that means to end users is that it is quite flexible, offering an interesting array of different storage engines with different features, strengths, and tradeoffs.

MariaDB 5.1.42, a new branch of the MySQL database which includes all major open source storage engines, myriad bug fixes, and many community patches, has been released. We are very proud to have made our first final release, and we encourage you to test it out and use it on your systems.

In my job as a systems engineer, I have handled various storage implementations for our enterprise clients. These may be in the form of direct-attached storage (DAS), network-attached storage (NAS), storage area network (SAN), or Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) systems.

You might know that beginning with MySQL 5.1.24, support for the NDBCLUSTER storage engine was removed from the standard MySQL server binaries built by MySQL. Therefore, here I'm using MySQL Cluster edition instead of MySQL Community edition.

While OpenOffice.org is first and foremost a desktop office suite, it has a few powerful features that allow you to create some nifty solutions. For example, the Base application supports different database engines such as MySQL, and it can connect and manage remote databases.

Two data storage vendors are out with new products this week that they claim can save users a bundle over more traditional storage systems.

Many IT organizations today are scratching their heads debating whether the advantages of implementing a SAN solution justify the associated costs. Others are trying to get a handle on today's storage options and whether SAN is simply Network Attached Storage spelled backwards.

We are pleased to announce the availability of new Red Hat Storage Server 2.0 features and capabilities that bring enhanced virtual machine storage functionality for Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, end-to-end encryption for data at rest and in motion, and enhanced security and data availability.

Cloud storage services offers Ubuntu users an ever increasing range of features. Most users have heard of Dropbox, the online storage application which makes it easy to save files in the "cloud". As far as consumer-facing cloud storage solutions Dropbox is about the best there is.