Sun has closed the deal to acquire open-source database leader MySQL just six week after announcing the agreement.

On 16 January, Sun surprised many industry watchers by saying it would pay about $1bn for Finland-based MySQL, making it by far the largest agreement for an open-source outfit.

With the closure of the deal, Sun said it will now be free to push MySQL programs with the backing of a 17,000-strong sales, services and support army.

Rich Green, Sun executive vice president of software, described the MySQL capture as “the most important acquisition in Sun’s history and modern software history”.

Sun followed up the MySQL agreement with a deal last month to buy desktop virtualisation company Innotek, and said other open-source acquisitions are likely.

IT buyers will have a close-up opportunity to find out for themselves as Sun this week embarks on a world tour of customers and developers touting the value of MySQL.

Among ticklish challenges will be positioning MySQL against Oracle, the database giant that has long been a symbiotic partner of Sun. On a conference call last week, Sun batted off suggestions that MySQL will challenge the Oracle axis. “We’re not competing with proprietary companies,” said chief executive Jonathan Schwartz.