AliSQL is an independent MySQL branch developed by Alibaba Cloud. It includes all MySQL Community Edition features and adds enterprise-grade capabilities — backup and restoration, monitoring, performance optimization, read-only instances, and Oracle-compatible features like the Sequence Engine.
Introduction to AliSQL
AliSQL builds on MySQL Community Edition and closes the gap with MySQL Enterprise Edition by providing:
Enterprise-grade backup and restoration — hot backup for InnoDB, point-in-time recovery (PITR), and database- and table-level restoration
Thread pool — decouples threads from sessions so a small number of threads can handle high-concurrency workloads efficiently
Performance optimization — parallel query, Binlog in Redo, Statement Queue, and other features that reduce latency and increase throughput under load
Oracle compatibility — the Sequence Engine simplifies migrating Oracle workloads that depend on sequence-based ID generation
ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL extends AliSQL further with managed-service capabilities: cross-region backup, SQL Insights, Enhanced Monitor, and a single-tenant database proxy.
Version support
The following table lists AliSQL features and the MySQL versions that support them.
Functionality
| Feature | Description | MySQL 8.0 | MySQL 5.7 | MySQL 5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native Flashback | Query or restore data at a specified point in time by running SQL statements — get historical data back immediately after accidental operations. | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Thread Pool | Separates threads from sessions so a small number of threads process all active sessions, reducing overhead under high connection counts. | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Statement Outline | Stabilizes query execution plans using optimizer hints and index hints. Install the DBMS_OUTLN package to use this feature. | Supported | Supported | Not supported |
| Sequence Engine | Simplifies sequence value generation for Oracle-compatible workloads. | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Returning | Allows DML statements to return result sets. Install the DBMS_TRANS package to use this feature. | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| EncDB | Encrypts specified data columns so unauthorized users cannot access plaintext through cloud platform software or tools. | Not supported | Supported | Not supported |
Performance
| Feature | Description | MySQL 8.0 | MySQL 5.7 | MySQL 5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Query Cache | An Alibaba Cloud redesign of the native MySQL query cache with a new implementation mechanism that improves query performance. | Not supported | Supported | Not supported |
| Binlog in Redo | Writes binary logs to the redo log file at transaction commit, reducing disk I/O and improving write throughput. | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Statement Queue | Queues statements that operate on the same resources (for example, the same table row) into the same bucket, reducing conflict overhead. | Supported | Supported | Not supported |
| Inventory Hint | Works with the Returning and Statement Queue features to commit and roll back transactions faster, increasing application throughput. | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Binlog Parallel Flush | Writes binary logs in parallel at transaction commit, removing write bottlenecks in high-concurrency scenarios. | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
Stability
| Feature | Description | MySQL 8.0 | MySQL 5.7 | MySQL 5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faster DDL | Optimizes buffer pool management to reduce the performance impact of DDL operations and increase the allowed number of concurrent DDL operations. | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Statement Concurrency Control | Controls statement concurrency based on syntax rules. Install the DBMS_CCL package to use this feature. | Supported | Supported | Not supported |
| Performance Agent | A MySQL extension that collects and analyzes instance performance metrics. | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Purge Large File Asynchronously | Deletes large files asynchronously to avoid I/O spikes that affect instance stability. | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Performance Insight | Provides load monitoring, association analysis, and performance optimization at the instance level, helping you identify and resolve performance bottlenecks. | Supported | Supported | Not supported |
| Commit optimization for large transactions | Optimizes large transaction commits (binlog cache free flush) to prevent excessive binary log write latency and keep the instance responsive. | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
High security
| Feature | Description | MySQL 8.0 | MySQL 5.7 | MySQL 5.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycle Bin | Temporarily retains deleted tables for a configurable period so you can recover them after accidental drops. Install the DBMS_RECYCLE package to use this feature. | Supported | Not supported | Not supported |
Feature list
Classification | Feature | Community Edition | Official Enterprise Edition | AliSQL kernel (5.7 & 8.0) | Alibaba Cloud RDS for MySQL |
Enterprise value-added service | Not provided | √ | √ | √ | |
Not provided | √ | √ | √ | ||
Not provided | √ | √ | √ | ||
MySQL Features | √ | √ | √ | √ | |
MySQL Connectors | √ | √ | Supports public distributions | Supports public distributions | |
MySQL Replication | √ | √ | √ | √ | |
MySQL Router | √ | √ | MaxScale (supported in MySQL 8.0) | Database proxy for single-tenant instances | |
MySQL Partitioning | √ | √ | √ | √ | |
InnoDB MyISAM NDB | InnoDB MyISAM NDB | InnoDB X-Engine | InnoDB X-Engine | ||
Oracle Compatibility | Not provided | Not provided | Supported in MySQL 8.0 | Supported in MySQL 8.0 | |
MySQL Enterprise Monitor | Not provided | √ | In development | Enhanced Monitor | |
Not provided | √ | In development | Performance Insight | ||
Not provided | √ | In development | √ | ||
Not provided | Not provided | Not provided | Enhanced Monitor | ||
MySQL Enterprise Backup | Not provided | √ | √ | √ | |
Not provided | √ | √ | Database-level and table-level backup | ||
Not provided | √ | √ | Database-level and table-level restoration | ||
Not provided | √ | √ | √ | ||
Not provided | Not provided | Not provided | Cross-region backup | ||
Not provided | Not provided | Supported in MySQL 8.0 | Supported in MySQL 8.0 | ||
Not provided | Not provided | √ | √ | ||
MySQL Enterprise Security | Local key replacement | √ | BYOK TDE, Key Rotating | BYOK TDE, Key Rotating | |
Not provided | Not provided | Not provided | BYOK encryption at rest | ||
SSL | √ | SSL | SSL | ||
Not provided | √ | SQL Explorer | SQL Explorer | ||
SM4 security encryption algorithm | Not provided | Not provided | √ | √ | |
Not provided | Not provided | Supported in MySQL 5.7 | Supported in MySQL 5.7 | ||
MySQL Enterprise Scalability | Not provided | √ | Supported in MySQL 8.0 | Supported in MySQL 8.0 | |
Not provided | Not provided | √ | Read-only instance | ||
MySQL Enterprise Reliability | Not provided | Not provided | √ | √ | |
Not provided | Not provided | √ | √ | ||
Not provided | Not provided | √ | √ | ||
Not provided | Not provided | √ | √ | ||
MySQL Enterprise High-Availability | Not provided | Not provided | Requires a third-party HA mechanism | High-availability series | |
√ | √ | √ | HA for read-only instances |
Features
The following tables compare AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) with MySQL Community Edition, MySQL Enterprise Edition, and ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL.
Enterprise-grade value-added services
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 support | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emergency troubleshooting | Not provided | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expert support | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
MySQL features
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MySQL Database Server | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MySQL Connectors | ✓ | ✓ | Supported for public versions | Supported for public versions |
| MySQL Replication | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MySQL Router | ✓ | ✓ | MaxScale supported for MySQL 8.0 | Single-tenant database proxy |
| MySQL Partitioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Storage engine | InnoDB, MyISAM, NDB | InnoDB, MyISAM, NDB | InnoDB, X-Engine | InnoDB, X-Engine |
Oracle compatibility
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sequence Engine | Not provided | Not provided | Supported for MySQL 8.0 | Supported for MySQL 8.0 |
MySQL Enterprise Monitor
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Dashboard | Not provided | ✓ | Under development | Enhanced Monitor |
| Query Analyzer | Not supported | ✓ | Under development | Performance Insight |
| Replication Monitor | Not provided | ✓ | Under development | ✓ |
| Enhanced OS Metrics | Not supported | Not provided | Not supported | Enhanced Monitor |
MySQL Enterprise Backup
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot backup for InnoDB | Not provided | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full, incremental, partial, and optimistic backups | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ | Database- and table-level backup supported |
| Full, partial, selective, and hot selective restore | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ | Database- and table-level restoration supported |
| Point-in-time recovery (PITR) | Not available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-region backup | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Cross-region backup supported |
| Recycle bin | Not provided | Not supported | Supported for MySQL 8.0 | Supported for MySQL 8.0 |
| Flashback | Not supported | Not provided | ✓ | ✓ |
MySQL Enterprise Security
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise TDE | Local key replacement supported | ✓ | BYOK-based TDE and key rotation supported | BYOK-based TDE and key rotation supported |
| Enterprise disk data encryption at rest | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | BYOK-based disk encryption supported |
| Enterprise encryption | SSL | ✓ | SSL | SSL |
| SQL Explorer | Not supported | ✓ | SQL Insights | SQL Insights |
| SM4 encryption algorithm | Not provided | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| EncDB | Not supported | Not supported | Supported for MySQL 5.7 | Supported for MySQL 5.7 |
MySQL Enterprise Scalability
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thread Pool | Not provided | ✓ | Supported for MySQL 8.0 | Supported for MySQL 8.0 |
| Enterprise readonly request extension | Not provided | Not supported | ✓ | Read-only instances supported |
MySQL Enterprise Reliability
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement Outline | Not supported | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inventory Hint | Not provided | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statement Concurrency Control | Not supported | Not available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hot SQL Firewall | Not supported | Not supported | ✓ | ✓ |
MySQL Enterprise High-Availability
| Feature | MySQL Community Edition | Enterprise Edition | AliSQL (MySQL 5.7 and MySQL 8.0) | ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Automatic Failover Switch | Not provided | Not provided | Third-party high-availability mechanism required | RDS High-availability Edition |
| Multi-Source Replication | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Highly available read-only instances supported |