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Fusion-io: New Flash-Powered Feature for MySQL, Atomic Writes

35% more transactions per second

Fusion-io, Inc. announced a new extension to its Virtual Storage Layer (VSL) software subsystem for conducting Atomic Writes in the MySQL open source database.

Referring to an operation in which a processor can simultaneously write multiple independent storage sectors as a single storage transaction, the Atomic Writes extension helps accelerate the popular MySQL enterprise database and enables new features powered by the flexibility of sophisticated flash architectures.

"Some vendors approach flash like just another disk, but this shortsighted approach leaves great potential unaddressed," said Nisha Talagala, Fusion-io Lead Architect. "With a software-centric approach, intelligent memory architectures can leverage the potential of flash to develop new features that accelerate databases and applications in ways previously not possible. By reducing the number of steps required to safely write data, the Atomic Writes software extension enables a substantial improvement in predictable performance and reduces the impact of database processing on the host CPU."

Atomic Writes allow flash-based memory to outperform architectures that require applications to conduct additional operations to safeguard data during failures. Since Atomic Writes eliminate the need to utilize the double write buffer, performance speeds are increased by not having to write data twice. This also reduces complexity and increases scalability as less complex code paths are used within the database. As the number of writes is cut in half by Atomic Writes, the software extension can also double hardware endurance. In addition, Atomic Writes ensure that operations are completed in their entirety, reducing the likelihood of data corruption and thereby increasing reliability.

The Atomic Writes extension connects Fusion’s VSL software architecture to MySQL to provide these enhanced features. The extension for MySQL is the first example of directly optimizing an application through the flexibility of VSL. With the new Atomic Writes extension, Fusion-io testing has observed 35 percent more transactions per second and a 2.5x improvement in performance predictability compared to conducting the same MySQL tests without the Atomic Writes feature.

To activate the Atomic Writes feature, database architects apply the extension to the InnoDB transactional storage engine for MySQL, which then creates a new InnoDB source image. The Atomic Writes extension selects operations that require Atomic Writes and then executes the operations accordingly.

The Atomic Writes extension will be available to select customers for testing in Q4 2011.

Fusion-io will collaborate with the MySQL community to assist with making the new Atomic Writes features accessible for widespread use as quickly as possible.

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