TimesTen Speeds I-commerce
ACTION ITEMS
Typical relational databases that use hard disks for storage and retrieval meet the needs of most corporate applications. However, as these applications move increasingly toward the Web, data-related performance becomes crucial and more difficult to manage -- especially in Internetcommerce applications.
TimesTen Performance Software's main-memory database -- TimesTen 3.0 -- aptly speeds up online data performance and is an ideal complement to the on-disk relational databases found at most sites.
A main-memory database differs from an on-disk database in that database functions such as optimization algorithms, buffered pool management, and index retrieval are written to use a system's faster memory, rather than the slower hard disk. On-disk databases can be loaded into memory, too; however, the management techniques implemented in on-disk databases are optimized for disk access, not for memory access.
TimesTen Performance Software is the first main-memory database vendor to implement a 64-bit version of its database for Unix platforms. The company also supports 32-bit versions of the database.
However, this year should bring some competition for TimesTen. Angara Database Systems expects to ship a 64-bit main-memory database next month, and Microsoft plans to integrate main-memory database support into Windows 2000.
I implemented both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of TimesTen to boost the performance of my test I-commerce applications. TimesTen uses standard connectivity via ODBC, so it was an easy fit into my environment. I noticed a considerable improvement compared with executing the same applications using only my on-disk database.
TimesTen, Version 3.0, was fairly straightforward to use in running my custom applications, and it was easily accessible from packaged applications, such as Microsoft's Excel. Later this year, TimesTen expects to introduce additional measures in a forthcoming release; these should make it even easier to combine the main-memory database with on-disk databases already in use.
Administering TimesTen 3.0 was not difficult. However, the management tools are available only via the command line. TimesTen expects to add some graphical management interfaces in its next release.
TimesTen is available across several platforms; these will meet the needs of many sites. However, support for platforms such as Linux and OS/400 would add value.
TimesTen is a good solution to consider for those sites with a need for greater speed. Those that need to improve I-commerce performance in particular will find TimesTen well worth looking into.
You can reach Senior Analyst Maggie Biggs at maggie_biggs@infoworld.com.
THE BOTTOM LINE: VERY GOOD
TimesTen 3.0
IT sites needing to speed data-related performance in Internet-commerce applications will find that this main-memory database meets the challenge.
Pros: 64-bit main-memory database; supports ODBC; easy access from custom and packaged applications; replicates across multiple servers.
Cons: Administration functions supported only via command line; lacks expanded platform support.
TimesTen Performance Software, Mountain View, Calif.; (800) 970-1248; http://www.timesten.com.
Price: From $20,000.