WL#1518, "make bundled zlib usable for unix builds":

required autotools macro written and deployed in all apropriate Makefile.ams.
Use cases checked:
- linux, standard location of zlib, no ndb
- linux, standard locatoin of zlib, with ndb
- linux, non-standard location of zlib, no ndb
- hpux11, use of bundled zlib, no ndb 
The only non-checked case is non-standard location of zlib (or use of bundled
zlib) + ndb. I wasn't able to check it as ndb/ just won't compile on beasts 
like AIX52 or HPUX11, where such a check is possible. It didn't compile 
there before as these systems dont't have installed zlib, so nothing got broken ;)

Makefile.am

@@ -19,8 +19,15 @@
 AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS =	foreign
 
 # These are built from source in the Docs directory
-EXTRA_DIST =		INSTALL-SOURCE README COPYING zlib
-SUBDIRS =		. include @docs_dirs@ \
+EXTRA_DIST =		INSTALL-SOURCE README COPYING
+SUBDIRS =		. include @docs_dirs@ @zlib_dir@ \
+			@readline_topdir@ sql-common \
+			@thread_dirs@ pstack @sql_client_dirs@ \
+			@sql_server_dirs@ scripts man tests \
+			netware @libmysqld_dirs@ \
+			@bench_dirs@ support-files @fs_dirs@ @tools_dirs@
+
+DIST_SUBDIRS =		. include @docs_dirs@ zlib \
 			@readline_topdir@ sql-common \
 			@thread_dirs@ pstack @sql_client_dirs@ \
 			@sql_server_dirs@ scripts man tests SSL\

acinclude.m4

@@ -167,32 +167,94 @@ then
 fi
 ])
 
-AC_DEFUN(MYSQL_CHECK_ZLIB_WITH_COMPRESS, [
-save_LIBS="$LIBS"
-LIBS="-l$1 $LIBS"
-AC_CACHE_CHECK([if libz with compress], mysql_cv_compress,
-[AC_TRY_RUN([#include <zlib.h>
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C"
-#endif
-int main(int argv, char **argc)
-{
-  return 0;
-}
 
-int link_test()
-{
-  return compress(0, (unsigned long*) 0, "", 0);
-}
-], mysql_cv_compress=yes, mysql_cv_compress=no)])
-if test "$mysql_cv_compress" = "yes"
-then
-  AC_DEFINE([HAVE_COMPRESS], [1], [ZLIB and compress])
-else
-  LIBS="$save_LIBS"
-fi
+dnl MYSQL_CHECK_ZLIB_WITH_COMPRESS
+dnl ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+dnl @synopsis MYSQL_CHECK_ZLIB_WITH_COMPRESS
+dnl
+dnl Provides the following configure options:
+dnl --with-zlib-dir   - custom location of compression library.
+dnl                     MySQL needs both header file (zlib.h) and the library
+dnl                     (libz.a). Given location prefix, the macro expects
+dnl                     to find the library headers in $prefix/include,
+dnl                     and binaries in $prefix/lib. If DIR is "no", 
+dnl                     compression and all dependent functions will be 
+dnl                     disabled.
+dnl The call checks presense of 'zlib' compression library in default or
+dnl given location. If there is no default library, the macro falls
+dnl back to use zlib bundled along with MySQL sources. But if configure is
+dnl called with custom name/path, and there is no library at given place,
+dnl the macro bails out with error.
+dnl 
+dnl If the library was found, this function #defines HAVE_COMPRESS
+dnl and configure variables ZLIB_INCLUDES (i.e. -I/path/to/zlib/include) and
+dnl ZLIB_LIBS (i. e. -L/path/to/zlib/lib -lz).
+dnl
+dnl Exception is Novell Netware, where we assume zlib is always present.
+
+AC_DEFUN([MYSQL_CHECK_ZLIB_WITH_COMPRESS], [
+AC_MSG_CHECKING([for zlib compression library])
+case $SYSTEM_TYPE in
+  *netware* | *modesto*)
+     AC_MSG_RESULT(ok)
+    ;;
+  *)
+    AC_ARG_WITH([zlib-dir],
+                AC_HELP_STRING([--with-zlib-dir=DIR],
+                               [Provide MySQL with a custom location of
+                               compression library. Given DIR, zlib binary is 
+                               assumed to be in $DIR/lib and header files
+                               in $DIR/include.]),
+                [mysql_zlib_dir=${withval}],
+                [mysql_zlib_dir=""])
+    if test "$mysql_zlib_dir" = "no"; then
+      mysql_cv_compress="no"
+      AC_MSG_RESULT([disabled])
+    else
+      if test "$mysql_zlib_dir" = ""; then
+        ZLIB_INCLUDES=""
+        ZLIB_LIBS="-lz"
+      else
+        if test -f "$mysql_zlib_dir/lib/libz.a" -a \ 
+                -f "$mysql_zlib_dir/include/zlib.h"; then
+          true
+        else
+          AC_MSG_ERROR([headers or binaries were not found in $mysql_zlib_dir/{include,lib}])
+        fi
+        ZLIB_INCLUDES="-I$mysql_zlib_dir/include"
+        ZLIB_LIBS="-L$mysql_zlib_dir/lib -lz"
+      fi
+      save_INCLUDES="$INCLUDES"
+      save_LIBS="$LIBS"
+      INCLUDES="$ZLIB_INCLUDES"
+      LIBS="$ZLIB_LIBS"
+      AC_CACHE_VAL([mysql_cv_compress],
+                   [AC_TRY_LINK([#include <zlib.h>],
+                                [int link_test() { return compress(0, (unsigned long*) 0, "", 0); }],
+                   [mysql_cv_compress="yes"
+                    AC_MSG_RESULT(ok)],
+                   [if test "$mysql_zlib_dir" = ""; then
+                      AC_MSG_RESULT([system-wide zlib not found, using one bundled with MySQL])
+                      ZLIB_INCLUDES="-I\$(top_srcdir)/zlib"
+                      ZLIB_LIBS="-L\$(top_builddir)/zlib -lz"
+                      zlib_dir="zlib"
+                      AC_SUBST([zlib_dir])
+                      mysql_cv_compress="yes"
+                    else
+                      AC_MSG_ERROR([not found in $mysql_zlib_dir])
+                    fi])])
+      INCLUDES="$save_INCLUDES"
+      LIBS="$save_LIBS"
+      AC_DEFINE([HAVE_COMPRESS], [1], [Define if zlib is present])
+      AC_SUBST([ZLIB_LIBS])
+      AC_SUBST([ZLIB_INCLUDES])
+    fi
+    ;;
+esac
 ])
 
+dnl ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 #---START: Used in for client configure
 AC_DEFUN(MYSQL_CHECK_ULONG,
 [AC_MSG_CHECKING(for type ulong)

configure.in

@@ -664,15 +664,6 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(named-curses-libs,
     [ with_named_curses=no ]
     )
 
-# Force use of a zlib (compress)
-AC_ARG_WITH(named-z-libs,
-    [  --with-named-z-libs=ARG
-                          Use specified zlib libraries instead of
-                          those automatically found by configure.],
-    [ with_named_zlib=$withval ],
-    [ with_named_zlib=z ]
-    )
-
 # Make thread safe client
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(thread-safe-client,
     [  --enable-thread-safe-client   
@@ -806,16 +797,7 @@ AC_CHECK_FUNC(crypt, AC_DEFINE([HAVE_CRYPT], [1], [crypt]))
 
 # For sem_xxx functions on Solaris 2.6
 AC_CHECK_FUNC(sem_init, , AC_CHECK_LIB(posix4, sem_init))
-
-# For compress in zlib
-case $SYSTEM_TYPE in
-  *netware* | *modesto*)
-    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_COMPRESS, [1])
-    ;;
-  *)
-    MYSQL_CHECK_ZLIB_WITH_COMPRESS($with_named_zlib)
-    ;;
-esac
+MYSQL_CHECK_ZLIB_WITH_COMPRESS
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Check for TCP wrapper support
@@ -945,7 +927,7 @@ then
 fi
 # We make a special variable for client library's to avoid including
 # thread libs in the client.
-NON_THREADED_CLIENT_LIBS="$LIBS"
+NON_THREADED_CLIENT_LIBS="$LIBS $ZLIB_LIBS"
 
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([for int8])
 case $SYSTEM_TYPE in
@@ -3082,6 +3064,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_FILES(Makefile extra/Makefile mysys/Makefile dnl
  include/mysql_version.h dnl
  cmd-line-utils/Makefile dnl
  cmd-line-utils/libedit/Makefile dnl
+ zlib/Makefile dnl
  cmd-line-utils/readline/Makefile)
  AC_CONFIG_COMMANDS([default], , test -z "$CONFIG_HEADERS" || echo timestamp > stamp-h)
  AC_OUTPUT

libmysql/Makefile.am

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 target =	libmysqlclient.la
 target_defs =	-DUNDEF_THREADS_HACK -DDONT_USE_RAID @LIB_EXTRA_CCFLAGS@
 LIBS =		@CLIENT_LIBS@
-INCLUDES =	-I$(top_srcdir)/include $(openssl_includes)
+INCLUDES =	-I$(top_srcdir)/include $(openssl_includes) @ZLIB_INCLUDES@
 
 include $(srcdir)/Makefile.shared
 

libmysql_r/Makefile.am

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ target = libmysqlclient_r.la
 target_defs = -DDONT_USE_RAID -DMYSQL_CLIENT @LIB_EXTRA_CCFLAGS@
 LIBS = @LIBS@ @openssl_libs@
 
-INCLUDES =	@MT_INCLUDES@ -I$(top_srcdir)/include $(openssl_includes)
+INCLUDES = @MT_INCLUDES@ \
+	   -I$(top_srcdir)/include $(openssl_includes) @ZLIB_INCLUDES@
 
 ## automake barfs if you don't use $(srcdir) or $(top_srcdir) in include
 include $(top_srcdir)/libmysql/Makefile.shared

libmysqld/Makefile.am

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ DEFS =			-DEMBEDDED_LIBRARY -DMYSQL_SERVER \
 			-DSHAREDIR="\"$(MYSQLSHAREdir)\""
 INCLUDES=		@MT_INCLUDES@ @bdb_includes@ -I$(top_srcdir)/include \
 			-I$(top_srcdir)/sql -I$(top_srcdir)/regex \
-			$(openssl_includes)
+			$(openssl_includes) @ZLIB_INCLUDES@
 
 noinst_LIBRARIES =	libmysqld_int.a
 pkglib_LIBRARIES =	libmysqld.a

myisam/Makefile.am

@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@ EXTRA_DIST =		mi_test_all.sh mi_test_all.res
 pkgdata_DATA =		mi_test_all mi_test_all.res
 
 INCLUDES =		@MT_INCLUDES@ -I$(top_srcdir)/include
-LDADD =			@CLIENT_EXTRA_LDFLAGS@ libmyisam.a ../mysys/libmysys.a \
-			../dbug/libdbug.a ../strings/libmystrings.a
+LDADD =			@CLIENT_EXTRA_LDFLAGS@ libmyisam.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/mysys/libmysys.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/dbug/libdbug.a \
+			@ZLIB_LIBS@ \
+			$(top_builddir)/strings/libmystrings.a
 pkglib_LIBRARIES =	libmyisam.a
 bin_PROGRAMS =		myisamchk myisamlog myisampack myisam_ftdump
 myisamchk_DEPENDENCIES=	$(LIBRARIES)

mysys/Makefile.am

@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
 MYSQLDATAdir =		$(localstatedir)
 MYSQLSHAREdir =		$(pkgdatadir)
 MYSQLBASEdir=		$(prefix)
-INCLUDES =		@MT_INCLUDES@ -I$(top_srcdir)/include -I$(srcdir)
+INCLUDES =		@MT_INCLUDES@ \
+                        @ZLIB_INCLUDES@ -I$(top_srcdir)/include -I$(srcdir)
 pkglib_LIBRARIES =	libmysys.a
 LDADD =			libmysys.a ../dbug/libdbug.a \
 			../strings/libmystrings.a

sql/Makefile.am

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 MYSQLDATAdir =		$(localstatedir)
 MYSQLSHAREdir =		$(pkgdatadir)
 MYSQLBASEdir=		$(prefix)
-INCLUDES =		@MT_INCLUDES@ \
+INCLUDES =		@MT_INCLUDES@ @ZLIB_INCLUDES@ \
 			@bdb_includes@ @innodb_includes@ @ndbcluster_includes@ \
 			-I$(top_srcdir)/include -I$(top_srcdir)/regex \
 			-I$(srcdir) $(openssl_includes)
@@ -30,14 +30,15 @@ noinst_PROGRAMS =	gen_lex_hash
 bin_PROGRAMS =		mysql_tzinfo_to_sql
 gen_lex_hash_LDFLAGS =  @NOINST_LDFLAGS@
 LDADD =			@isam_libs@ \
-			../myisam/libmyisam.a \
-			../myisammrg/libmyisammrg.a \
-			../heap/libheap.a \
-			../vio/libvio.a \
-			../mysys/libmysys.a \
-			../dbug/libdbug.a \
-			../regex/libregex.a \
-			../strings/libmystrings.a 
+			@ZLIB_LIBS@ \
+			$(top_builddir)/myisam/libmyisam.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/myisammrg/libmyisammrg.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/heap/libheap.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/vio/libvio.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/mysys/libmysys.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/dbug/libdbug.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/regex/libregex.a \
+			$(top_builddir)/strings/libmystrings.a 
 
 mysqld_LDADD =		@MYSQLD_EXTRA_LDFLAGS@ \
 			@bdb_libs@ @innodb_libs@ @pstack_libs@ \

tools/Makefile.am

-INCLUDES =		@MT_INCLUDES@ -I$(top_srcdir)/include $(openssl_includes)
-LDADD=			@CLIENT_EXTRA_LDFLAGS@ ../libmysql_r/libmysqlclient_r.la @openssl_libs@
+# Copyright (C) 2004 MySQL AB
+# 
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+# 
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+# 
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+# Process this file with automake to create Makefile.in
+
+INCLUDES=@MT_INCLUDES@ -I$(top_srcdir)/include $(openssl_includes)
+LDADD=  @CLIENT_EXTRA_LDFLAGS@ @openssl_libs@ @ZLIB_LIBS@ \
+	$(top_builddir)/libmysql_r/libmysqlclient_r.la \
 bin_PROGRAMS=		mysqlmanager
 mysqlmanager_SOURCES=	mysqlmanager.c
 mysqlmanager_DEPENDENCIES=	$(LIBRARIES) $(pkglib_LTLIBRARIES)

zlib/Makefile.am

+# Copyright (C) 2004 MySQL AB & MySQL Finland AB & TCX DataKonsult AB
+# 
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+# 
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+# 
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
+
+# Process this file with automake to create Makefile.in
+
+noinst_LIBRARIES=libz.a
+
+noinst_HEADERS= crc32.h deflate.h inffast.h inffixed.h inflate.h \
+                inftrees.h trees.h zconf.h zlib.h zutil.h
+
+libz_a_SOURCES= adler32.c compress.c crc32.c deflate.c gzio.c \
+                infback.c inffast.c inflate.c inftrees.c trees.c \
+		uncompr.c zutil.c
+
+EXTRA_DIST= README FAQ INDEX ChangeLog algorithm.txt zlib.3 
+