In-memory database

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An in-memory database (IMDB; also main memory database system or MMDB) is a database management system that primarily relies on main memory for computer data storage. It is contrasted with database management systems which employ a disk storage mechanism. Main memory databases can be faster than databases which rely on disk storage because the MMDB does not have to perform disk I/O to update or query its data.

[edit] ACID Support

In their simplest form, main memory databases store data on volatile memory devices. These devices lose all stored information when the device loses power or is reset. In this case, MMDBs can be said to lack support for the durability portion of the ACID properties. (Volatile memory-based MMDBs can, and often do, support the other three ACID properties of atomicity, consistency and isolation).

Many MMDBs add durability via the following mechanisms:

Transaction Logging, which records changes to the database in a journal file and facilitates automatic recovery of an in-memory database.

Non-volatile RAM, usually in the form of static RAM backed up with battery power (battery RAM), or an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM). With this storage, the MMDB system can recover the data store from its last consistent state upon reboot.

High Availability implementations that rely on database replication, with automatic failover to an identical standby database in the event of primary database failure.