Information instantly: HP spinoff uses data in memory to crank up performance

Relational databases for local number portability, intelligent networks, switching, data mining and other data-intensive carrier applications could receive a significant performance boost from a new database memory management application.

The TimesTen 2.0 Main Memory Manager from Hewlett-Packard spinoff TimesTen uses a memory-resident architecture to improve the performance of relational databases. It employs a standard relational database model and standard structured query language (SQL), allowing customers to choose from a bevy of database tools.

"The relational database market is mature, with several large players providing a lot of features to take advantage of the data," said Tim Shetler, vice president of marketing at Mountain View, Calif.-based TimesTen. "Unfortunately, when new features are added to relational databases, they slow performance. For industries where performance matters-like telecommunications-that's not good."

To boost performance, the Main Memory Manager uses algorithms that take advantage of the memory residence of the data store, the information that resides in a large computer system's main memory.

"This allows us to take more direct routes to the data and simplify the process of conducting transactions," said Shetler. "The manager optimizes queries under simple assumptions and doesn't have to make worst-case assumptions based on the data residing on the disk."

While this idea is not unique, TimesTen's use of it in a non-proprietary manner is a significant move, according to one analyst.

"Tekelec has used a similar approach for its LNP application, but its approach is proprietary, while TimesTen's is open," said Rob Rich, an analyst for The Yankee Group. "That allows carriers to build it into a broad base of existing database systems without the need for an integrator's help."

Northern Telecom, Sun Microsystems and HP are among the companies beta testing the system, and DSC Communications already has signed up, said Shetler.

"There are lots of applications just screaming for performance improvements," said Rich. "It's more a matter of people using their imaginations than anything else."