Concurrent MySQL installation wit mediatemple

I am currentl using an appliance server at Media Temple.

And for whatever reason, i need to be able to use…or would like to be able to use MySQL 4.x currently; the temple is only using 3.x.

They havnt been the most helpful in pointing me in the direction i need to go to make this happen, so im asking here.

They tell me I can just upgrade because it will break the control panel. But that I can have concurrent installations of plesk. Supposidly its not as simple as just installing another version on your server tho…does anyone have any advice or forsight on this issue.

Thanks