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Microsoft tests tool for migrating MySQL to SQL Server

Ever since Oracle made overtures to buy Sun (and get MySQL in the process), Microsoft's been more of a MySQL foe than friend. Given that context, it's probably not too surprising that Microsoft is readying a tool designed to help customers migrate from MySQL to SQL Server and/or SQL Azure, Microsoft's cloud-hosted version of its database
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

It's no secret that even though MySQL has been a Microsoft partner, it also is a Microsoft competitor. And ever since Oracle made overtures to buy Sun and (get MySQL in the process), Microsoft's been even more of a foe.

Given that context, it's probably not too surprising that Microsoft is readying a tool designed to help customers migrate from MySQL to SQL Server and/or SQL Azure, Microsoft's cloud-hosted version of its database. That tool is currently in the early test stage (Community Technology Preview 1), and is downloadable from the Microsoft Download Center.

The MySQL migration tool is part of the Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) toolkit. According to a recent post on Microsoft's Data Platform Insider blog:

"A new addition to the SSMA family is the CTP version 1.0 for MySQL that provides an assessment of migration efforts as well as automates schema and data migration from MySQL to SQL Server. Freely download and preview this tool now."

The version of the My SQL migration tool that supports SQL Server 2008 is designed to work with MySQL 4.1, 5.0 and 5.1. The version that supports SQL Server 2005 also supports MySQL 4.1, 5.0 and 5.1.

If Oracle's acquisition of Sun/MySQL does go through, I wouldn't be surprised to see Oracle release a SQL Server to MySQL migration tool... Long live the database wars!

I've asked Microsoft for more information as to when the final version of the tool will be available and whether it will cost anything. I'll update once I hear back.

Update (January 13): More details from a Microsoft spokesperson: When the final version of the MySQL migration tool goes live in the summer of 2010, it will remain a free toolkit.

Also: MySQL is the latest addition to the tools that are part of the Migration Assistant pack. Microsoft already offers migration tools for moving customers from Oracle, Sybase and Access to SQL Server. It also offers an analyzer for PowerBuilder, the spokesperson said. Since the SQL Server Migration Assistants for Oracle became avaialble in June, 2005, there have been more than 250,000 downloads of them, she added.

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