[debian-mysql] MySQL latest

[Dr Paul Adamthwaite]

Might I ask you to tell me which is the "latest" version of MySQL server 
that could or should be used? Debian packages show both mysql-server 
(5.5.54-0+deb8u1) and mysql-server (5.7.17-1), the latter as "unstable."

Your Debian "derivative" Ubuntu uses the latter (recommendation from 
Oracle?), yet stable Debian appears to hesitate. 5.7 may be a little 
stricter (I'm not sure whether all aspects are security related) but we 
have found it to be more efficient (CPU cycles) if necessary upgrades to 
older db's can be effected.

My concern is that Mariadb may be the ineluctable alternative, and I am 
reluctant to to even have to consider major changes to several hundred 
servers.

Thanks -- Paul