The Ultimate Guide to High Availability with MariaDB
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Licensing in non embedded solution

We develop software compatible with different platform: Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL. As Oracle take MySQL control, we like to use MariaDB. As we work with Public Administration Clients, we need a clear and simple license statement, so Piblic Administration can Justify MariaDB adoption as RDBMS. We have 2 questions:

1. client-server solution: we do not embed MariaDB in our NON GPL client-server software. Our clients can install MariaDB on their servers and ODBC on their PCs. Our software can uses ODBC on client PC to connect to MariaDB server. What license apply ? Is necessary to buy support contract or something like that, at which price ?

2. web solution: we do not embed MariaDB in our NON GPL web software. We distribute .NET connector dlls as is, clients can install MariaDB on their servers. Our software uses .NEt connector to connect to MariaDB server. What license apply ? Is necessary to buy support contract or something like that, at which price ?

Answer Answered by Michael Widenius in this comment.

In case 1, you are not affected by the GPL because:

  • You are not linking with GPL software.
  • Your application doesn't require MariaDB to work.

The fact that the user can use a GPL program like MariaDB with your application doesn't in any way put any restrictions or license requirements on your application.

In case 2, you are not distributing any GPL code and thus you are not affected by the GPL in any way.

Note that in many cases like this you would be probably be fine even if you would distribute the MySQL/MariaDB connectors and MariaDB with your application. See licensing FAQ for details or contact me if you need to know more.

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