MySQL - moving MillMaster data to a database

More and more of our customers are looking for easy access to MillMaster information using a variety of third party report writing tools such as IQ, Crystal and Jasper for MySQL.

Our current data is organised and managed on the HP Alpha using a proprietary HP record management system (rms) that is not easily accessible to those report writers.

In order to provide easy access to MillMaster data we have migrated MillMaster from rms to MySQL, a modern relational database.

Some of the key factors that have driven this decision are as follows:

• Perfomance
• Reliability
• Date integrity
• Low cost of ownership
• Integration with third party reporting tools

MySQL is a modern, global enterprise product in use at over 10 million sites worldwide, and growing daily.

Several features make MySQL right for MillMaster and right for you:

Scalability
MySQL will support your business whatever its size now or in the future so you will not need to reinvest in a database as your business grows.

Exceptional performance
MySQL gives exceptional performance whether transaction processing or reporting.

Reliability
Whenever you need to access data, the database is there, 24 x 365. You will be investing in one of the most reliable, robust, and secure databases in the world to protect your data.

Data integrity and protection
The database incorporates full data integrity (transactional), so that if you should have a system failure or disaster, the risk of losing data or of your information being corrupted is minimal. The data-protection and user-security facilities also protect your data assets from unauthorised use. You know that one of your most valuable business assets, your data, is safe.

Easy administration
Administration of the MySQL database is very straightforward and significantly less effort than for some other leading database products.

Low cost of ownership
The licence fees associated with MySQL are minimal, which makes the total cost of ownership very affordable. As your business grows, the database will scale on industry-standard hardware to keep down your future costs.

Integration
MySQL allows MillMaster to interface with many third party products so you can use it in conjunction with other software products that support your business, such as Microsoft Office applications.

Report writer
All the MillMaster data stored in the MySQL database is available to popular report writers such as IQ, Crystal and Jasper for MySQL. This means that you can design and write your own reports and ad-hoc enquiries using MillMaster data in a format that is familiar to you.

Alternatively, if you do not want to invest time and effort learning how to use specialist report writers, BMS can design the reports for you, or you can use one of the many hundreds of standard MillMaster reports.

MySQL implementation for MillMaster

First some points:

BMS will not support MySQL on HP Alpha, it will only operate on the HP Integrity hardware range.

BMS users will not be forced to upgrade to Integrity, they can do this at their own speed and as their business requires additional capacity or when their hardware is due for natural replacement. Our long term goal is to move all users to Integrity and MySQL in a timescale acceptable to users.

From 2008 if you purchase an HP Integrity server we will move you from rms to MySQL.

There is no BMS licence for the MySQL version of MillMaster but there will be an Integrity platform upgrade licence.

You will need to purchase MySQL at a cost of approximately £300.

Roll-out plan

Spring 2007 – Integrity server was installed at SVF.

Summer 2007 – SVF started to use dual update MySQL allowing them to use MySQL for reporting and to trial the new browser version of MillMaster.

Summer 2007 onwards – Customers purchasing an Integrity server during the remainder of 2007 have the option to have the MySQL dual update to allow use of third party report writers and also possibly try out some browser screens (requires additional infrastructure changes).

February 2008 – SVF will have full MySQL version of MillMaster installed
and operational.

Quarter two 2008 – Integrity servers will be installed with MySQL as standard.

For more information about MySQL please visit: http://www.mysql.com