MySQL Bugs: #57528: Multiple major version compatable embedded server/engine

Bug #57528	Multiple major version compatable embedded server/engine
Submitted:	18 Oct 2010 15:01
Reporter:	Lig Isler-Turmelle	Email Updates:
Status:	Verified	Impact on me:	None
Category:	MySQL Server: Embedded Library ( libmysqld )	Severity:	S4 (Feature request)
Version:		OS:	Any
Assigned to:		CPU Architecture:	Any

Description:
When it comes time to upgrade an embedded version of MySQL it would be nice to have some method of working with the original binary files from the old version and the new binary files for the new version at the same time that automatically takes into account any major format changes and handles them gracefully.

How to repeat:
have an 4.1 embedded server.  Go to update to 5.1.  There is no easy way to work with the data in the old binary files from the embedded 5.1 server.  

Instead you have to export all the old data to the new version to be able to work with it.

Suggested fix:
create/alter an engine/server that can work with a previous version and the current one so OEM users who need to upgrade can work with the 2 versions simultaneously.