Adding MySQL to Geoserver for Non-Spatial Data

Question

I need to connect to a MySql table, which has all the attribute values and the lat & long. I am using a GeoServer Suite to host my raster and so felt the best way to go about it would be to add the MySQL to my Geoserver, but it seems, geoserver comes with Postgres by default.

Is there any My SQL extension to geoserver?

Is this the best approach to obtain the info from a MySql database?

UPDATE: Ok so what I am trying to do is eventually migrate my Database to PostGIS. So I am trying to create a shapefile from MySQL database. The database has non-spatial data with the lat and long associated with each attribute data. I found pyshp, but i think that is reading the shape file. Can we create shapefile using the pyshp (meaning can we create shapefile from MySQL database using pyshp)? Becoz if i am able to create the shapefile then I can easily insert it into PostGIS using geoServer and it can be used in other softwares as well.

Answer 1

first of all pls. make acception for accept rate. :)

You can connect mysql to geoserver from Create New Feature Data Set

1.Select New from Config -> Data -> DataStores and define your Feature Data Set Description to MySQL and your feature dataset

2.On feature data set editor, write your database name, user and password with host and port. alternatively you can define maximum and minumum connections.

3.And the last think is submitting and saving your options.

it will come soon is that defining FeatureType. i want to write everything here about connection between geoserver and mysql but i have checked there is good information on opengeo which is very good that you can read on Adding a MySQL Table to GeoServer tutorial...

i hope it helps you...