McObject has upgraded its ExtremeDB in-memory, embedded database, adding a Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) driver. ExtremeDB 4.5 improves performance in several areas, adds more efficient and scalable versions of popular database indexes, improves SQL and High Availability (HA) interfaces, and optimizes the HA edition for a Solace Message Router device to improve performance, claims the company.

Over the last year, McObject has spun out an ExtremeDB JNI version of its Linux-ready ExtremeDB in-memory database, supporting Java Native Interface (JNI), as well as a clustering version. Now the company is revising its core ExtremeDB product, last rev'd to version 4.1 in May 2010.

ExtremeDB can run in a code footprint as small as 50KB, enabling it to run in memory for most embedded and real-time applications. The Linux-compatible software is said to support transactions, concurrent access, and a high-level data definition language.

ExtremeDB 4.5 builds upon its Java push in the JNI release by adding a Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) 4, level 4 driver for developing applications and accessing existing ExtremeDB databases in Java. The driver is included with the software's ExtremeSQL Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface). JDBC can deliver higher efficiency than native APIs for certain operations, such as complex queries and mass updates/deletes, claims McObject.

ExtremeDB 4.5's other major enhancement is related its High Availability (HA) edition, which in the latest version offers a streamlined database API, enabling more efficient development with simplified parameters, says the company The HA version has also been optimized for Solace Systems' Solace Message Router appliance (Solace 3230M model pictured). The integration enables the Solace device to serve as the communication channel in an ExtremeDB-HA deployment.

The Solace system's hardware-based messaging middleware can now be used to connect master and replica database nodes at high speeds, offering guaranteed message delivery. When paired with a Solace router, ExtremeDB-HA can also use a streamlined HA protocol, as well as eliminate an acknowledgement step, resulting in less network traffic, reduced latency and faster transaction rate, claims McObject.

(The Solace routers appear to lack a full-fledge operating system, but has been configured to be tightly integrated with other Linux networking systems, according to the company.)

In addition to the JDBC and HA improvements, other enhancements in ExtremeDB 4.5 are said to include:

• improved hash and R-tree indexes — ExtremeDB 4.5 introduces a dynamic hash index that grows as data is added, for greater speed and scalability, says McObject. In addition, the software's R-tree index implementation, used in mapping/geospatial applications, is said to be faster and now includes the MCO_NEIGHBORHOOD search type. This is said to facilitate a search for index entries within a given radius, such as "find the nearest gas station."
• new database browser capabilities — Version 4.5 now enables development of browsers for end-users to explore database content and data interrelationships within the context of their applications.
• improved transaction managers — The ExtremeDB multiple-reader, single writer (MURSIW) transaction manager now offers a "mostly read" mode to accommodate application data access patterns that write to the database only occasionally, says the company. This is said to speed performance in many router applications. The multi-version concurrency control (MVCC) transaction manager has also been updated.
• faster transaction logging — The "Transaction Logging" edition of ExtremeDB now offers faster performance via improved buffering and lightweight locking mechanisms, says the company.
• ExtremeSQL enhancements — The ExtremeSQL interface adds support for static virtual tables, extends the JOIN…ON clause with new operators, adds support for Patricia trie indexes via SQL, and optimizes multiple SQL statements, says McObject.

Stated Steve Graves, McObject CEO and co-founder, "The eXtremeDB High Availability – Solace Message Router integration emerged from a successful McObject consulting project, and has applicability in low latency/high frequency trading, network infrastructure, and other uses where mission critical infrastructure applications demand both fault-tolerance and low-latency.

Availability

ExtremeDB 4.5 appears to be available now at an unstated price. More information may be found in this McObject ExtremeDB 4.5 announcement.

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