MySQL Connector/NET 8.1.0 is a new GA release version that supersedes the 8.0 series, and is recommended for use on production systems. This release can be used against MySQL Server version 5.7 and later.
- Previously, - mysql.procwas used as a way of speeding up queries for procedures and parameters. Starting with MySQL 8.0, the- mysql.proctable is no longer available and the connector now uses- information_schema. (WL #15643, WL #15644, WL #15654)
- Support to install Connector/NET through MySQL Installer is removed. The preferred method is to install Connector/NET using NuGet packages for full functionality, or the standalone MSI file for base-level functionality (see Installing Connector/NET on Windows). (WL #15795) 
- 
Connector/NET no longer supports the following discontinued standard and frameworks: - .NET Core 3.1 and 5.0 
- EF Core 3.1 and EF Core 5.0 
 (WL #15797) 
- Connector/NET now provides the - MySQL.Data.OpenTelemetryNuGet package that implements- OpenTelementry.Apiand adds the- AddConectorNetextension method to- TraceProviderBuilder, which sets the connector as a source of application-specific telemetry that client application code emits. For details, see Enabling OpenTelemetry Tracing. (WL #15707)
- Application developers must now ensure the availability of the - ZstdSharp.Portlibrary at run time when using the noinstall packages (NuGet packages provide the dependency). This implementation replaces the bundled implementation of the- zstdcompression algorithm, which was deactivated in Connector/NET 8.0.33. (WL #15708)
- Queries using the - MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnectionclass did not connect as expected if the connector was installed using the MSI file. This fix now adds- System.Threading.Tasks.Extensionsand- System.CompilerServices.UnsafeDLLs to the MSI file for inclusion into the GAC. (Bug #35360846)
- Some DLL files in NuGet and No Install packages were unsigned. (Bug #35052869) 
- MySqlParameter.Clonecould return a- MySqlParameterobject with a- MySqlDbTypevalue that differed from the original, rather than preserving the original type. (Bug #109682, Bug #34993796)
- MySqlParameter.MySqlDbType, if set to- MySqlDbType.Int24, emitted an error similar to Out of range value for column 'data' at row 1 when a prepared statement was executed and the parameter value was a negative number. (Bug #108756, Bug #34694519)