So, what is the difference between custom-built memory structures such as buffers and IMDB. For starters, IMDB offers API functionality to applications using ODBC and JDBC. This means, providing the power of SQL Query language to poll the data located entirely in memory without disk I/O.
As a result of high throughput and speedier access to data, applications like SAP can provide a real time response for time critical jobs.
SAP IMDB solutions using Sybase are popular due to an integrated solution framework. Key data base challenges like indexing, query management, storage, hashing, replication, transaction logging, savepoints and restores have been incorporated into SAP IMDB scenarios.
Limitations of SAP IMDB
Despite the commoditization of hardware and low-cost of available memory today, one cannot overlook the limitations posed in an IMDB based solution.- IMDB solutions are OS aware, meaning there is a tight coupling with the underlying operating system. Unix / Linux platforms are popularly used for their support of IMDB solutions.
- IMDB solutions are restricted by the shared memory in which they reside. This means applications can run as long as they fit within pre-defined criteria. This means scalability is an issue for IMDB solutions.
- IMDB solutions tend to introduce low latency in the applications. This is the price to pay for expecting rapid response to event based transactions.
