InterSystems Emphasizes High Availability In Cache 2010 Database

InterSystems has developed a new release of its Cache object database system that provides new development and deployment options for ISV and VAR partners who build data-intensive applications.

Topping the list of improvements in the Cache 2010 release is new database mirroring technology that the company said reduces the system's planned and unplanned downtime. The new capability provides automatic failover between any two Cache-based systems without the need for special storage and networking hardware and software.

"We think we can offer a significant level of availability," said Robert Nagle, InterSystems software development vice president, in an interview. "Early users of our mirroring capabilities project cost savings of 30 to 50 percent based on production configurations."

While most replication systems are inherently complex, Nagle emphasized that Cache Database Mirroring is simple to implement and uses logical data replication to reduce the risk of out-of-order updates and carry-forward data corruption. Mirrored database also can be housed in separate data centers.

The system allows businesses to employ redundant, less expensive servers and storage systems, according to InterSystems, and reduces the need for expensive clustering software. And it provides "warm" failover/failback capabilities, an asynchronous option for disaster recovery, and an alternative for data aggregation tasks.

Next: Java Development Support

Another improvement in the new release is the Cache eXTreme for Java development technology that allows developers to build Java applications to run with the Cache database. In the past developers had to use InterSystem's own ObjectScript language. Providing direct Java access to the Cache database engine greatly improves the system's performance and allows Java objects to be stored directly in the database.

The health-care industry is one of InterSystems' biggest market, but Nagle said the performance improvements in Cache 2010 also make it applicable for financial services industry, smart grid utility and scientific applications.

Cache 2010 is available now on Windows, Linux, Mac, Unix and OpenVMS platforms with prices ranging from $220 to $1,380 per user, depending on configuration.