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Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) has been renovated with the introduction of In-Memory OLTP in SQL Server, drastically improving the performance of database-driven applications. This blog post explores the workings of SQL Server In-Memory OLTP, providing hands-on examples of SQL code.
What is In-Memory OLTP?
In-Memory OLTP is a high-performance, memory-optimized engine integrated into SQL Server. Its primary function is to boost the performance of transaction-intensive and read-intensive applications. It achieves this by storing data in memory and eliminating locking and blocking circumstances that often inhibit database performance.
Creating a Memory-Optimized Table
The core of In-Memory OLTP involves creating memory-optimized tables. These tables are fundamentally stored in memory, significantly boosting data access speed. Here’s an overview of how you can create a memory-optimized table in SQL:
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CREATE DATABASE MemDB ON PRIMARY(NAME = MemDB_data, FILENAME = 'MemDB_data.mdf'), FILEGROUP MemDB_fg CONTAINS MEMORY_OPTIMIZED_DATA(NAME = MemDB_dir, FILENAME = 'MemDB_dir') LOG ON (NAME = MemDB_log, FILENAME = 'MemDB_log.ldf') WITH MEMORY_OPTIMIZED_DATA = ON |
This script creates a database ‘MemDB’ with a filegroup for memory-optimized data.
Inserting Data Into Memory-Optimized Tables
Inserting data into memory-optimized tables is similar to the conventional method of inserting data into SQL Server tables. The following SQL code adds data to a memory-optimized table named ‘Employees’:
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INSERT INTO Employees (ID, Name, Position, Department, Salary) VALUES (1, 'John Doe', 'Manager', 'Operations', 70000) |
Selecting Data from Memory-Optimized Tables
Using a SELECT statement to query data from memory-optimized tables is also similar to querying regular tables:
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SELECT * FROM Employees |
Conclusion
In-Memory OLTP is a powerful feature useful for transaction-heavy applications, enabling much faster data access and manipulation. As you continue to explore SQL Server’s in-memory technologies, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of its abilities to optimize database operations for your applications.