"In-Memory Database Cache" option for Oracle 10g Enterprise Edition

Question

Hi,
In one of our applications, we are using TimesTen 5.1.24 and Oracle 9i
databases (platform - Solaris 9i).
TimesTen holds application information which needs to be accessed quickly
and Oracle 9i is a master application database.
Now we are looking at an option of migrating from Oracle 9i to Oracle 10g
database. While exploring about Oracle 10g features, came to know about
"In-Memory Database Cache" option for Oracle Enterprise Edition. This made
me to think about using Oracle 10g Enterprise Edition with "In-Memory
Database Cache" option for our application.
Following are the advantages that I could visualize by adopting the
above-mentioned approach:
1. Data reconciliation between Oracle and TimesTen is not required (i.e.
data can be maintained only in Oracle tables and for caching "In-Memory
Database Cache" can be used)
2. Data maintenance is easy and gives one view access to data
I have following queries regarding the above-mentioned solution:
1. What is the difference between "TimesTen In-Memory Database" and
"In-Memory Database Cache" in terms of features and licensing model?
2. Is "In-Memory Database Cache" option integrated with Oracle 10g
installable or a separate installable (i.e. TimesTen installable with only
cache feature)?
3. Is "In-Memory Database Cache" option same as that of "TimesTen Cache
Connect to Oracle" option in TimesTen In-Memory Database?
4. After integrating "In-Memory Database Cache" option with Oracle 10g, data
access will happen only through Oracle sqlplus or OCI calls. Am I right here
in making this statement?
5. Is it possible to cache the result set of a join query in "In-Memory
Database Cache"?
In "Options and Packs" chapter in Oracle documentation
(http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/license.102/b14199/options.htm
#CIHJJBGA), I encountered the following statement:
"For the purposes of licensing Oracle In-Memory Database Cache, only the
processors on which the TimesTen In-Memory Database component of the
In-Memory Database Cache software is installed and/or running are counted
for the purpose of determining the number of licenses required."
We have servers with the following configuration. Is there a way to get the
count of processors on which the Cache software could be installed and/or
running? Please assist.
Production box with 12 core 2 duo processors (24 cores)
Pre-production box with 8 core 2 duo processors (16 cores)
Development and test box with 2 single chip processors
Development and test box with 4 single chip processors
Development and test box with 6 single chip processors
Thanks & Regards,
Vijay

Answer 1

Hi Vijay,
regarding your questions:
1. What is the difference between "TimesTen In-Memory Database" and
"In-Memory Database Cache" in terms of features and licensing model?
==> Product has just been renamed and integrated better with the Oracle database - Times-Ten == In-Memory-Cache-Database
2. Is "In-Memory Database Cache" option integrated with Oracle 10g
installable or a separate installable (i.e. TimesTen installable with only
cache feature)?
==> Seperate Installation
3. Is "In-Memory Database Cache" option same as that of "TimesTen Cache
Connect to Oracle" option in TimesTen In-Memory Database?
==> Please have a look here: http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/timesten/quickstart/cc_qs_index.html
This explains the differences.
4. After integrating "In-Memory Database Cache" option with Oracle 10g, data
access will happen only through Oracle sqlplus or OCI calls. Am I right here
in making this statement?
==> Please see above mentioned papers
5. Is it possible to cache the result set of a join query in "In-Memory
Database Cache"?
==> Again ... ;-)
Kind regards
Mike