MariaDB 5.3.4 vs MySQL 5.5.20 – 5.1 XtraDB Engine vs InnoDB Plugin

Percona folks released some surprising Sysbench MySQL InnoDB Engine benchmarks comparing MariaDB 5.3.4 RC (which is based on Percona 5.1 XtraDB InnoDB engine) with MySQL 5.5.20 (InnoDB plugin). The results showed MySQL 5.5.20 was out performing MariaDB 5.3.4 RC for simple Sysbench OLTP InnoDB benchmark tests.

MariaDB folks then did their own MariaDB 5.3.4 RC vs MySQL 5.5.20 (and Percona 5.1.61 and 5.5.20) tests which confirm the same results in that MariaDB 5.3.4 RC which is based on same Percona 5.1.x XtraDB Engine was performing behind both MySQL 5.5.20 (InnoDB plugin based) and Percona 5.5.20 which is based on MySQL 5.5 code. Even though MariaDB 5.3.4 RC and Pecona 5.1.x was using same XtraDB engine, MariaDB 5.3.4 RC was performing slightly worse. MariaDB 5.2.x was missing from comparison so not sure how MariaDB 5.2 would fair although it is like MariaDB 5.3.4 RC based on Percona 5.1 XtraDB engine.

MariaDB folks are investigating this, but they also will build future MariaDB 5.3 versions against the InnoDB plugin and their AskMonty KB already has a how to article for building MariaDB 5.3 against the vanilla InnoDB plugin.

Update: Looks like MariaDB 5.3.5 stable release might have fixed the problem ?