What’s new in MySQL 9.0
Oracle celebrated the beginning of July with the general availability of three releases of its open source database, MySQL: MySQL 8.0.38, the first update of its long-term support (LTS) version, MySQL 8.4, and the first major version of its 9.x innovation release, MySQL 9.0.
While the v8 releases are bug fixes and security releases only, MySQL 9.0 Innovation is a shiny new version with additional features, as well as some changes that may require attention when upgrading from a previous version.
The new 9.0 versions of MySQL Clients, Tools, and Connectors are also live, and Oracle recommends that they be used with MySQL Server 8.0, and 8.4 LTS as well as with 9.0 Innovation.
This initial 9.x Innovation release, Oracle says, is preparation for new features in upcoming releases. But it still contains useful things and can be upgraded to from MySQL 8.4 LTS; the MySQL Configurator automatically does the upgrade without user intervention during MSI installations on Windows.
Insecure and elderly SHA-1, after being deprecated in MySQL 8, is gone, and the server now rejects mysql_native authentication requests from older client programs which do not have CLIENT_PLUGIN_AUTH capability. Before upgrading to 9.0, Oracle says, user accounts in 8.0 and 8.4 must be altered from mysql_native_password to caching_sha2_password.
