Advanced Control with the c-treeACE Dynamically Loadable Database Engine

For flexibility of application development, c-tree database technology has long offered single-user standalone technology as well as multi-user standalone and client-server based models. With its stability and data integrity, c-tree database technology is embedded in thousands of standalone applications on desktops everywhere. As applications grew from workstations to small workgroups, multi-user features were easy to add and deployment remained an effortless challenge with the multi-user standalone model.

Moving from standalone to client-server technology is almost as easy. The c-treeACE Database Engine offers unparalleled multi-threaded performance for larger workgroups requiring even more advanced features. With only a few lines of application code modification and configuration of clients to communicate to a central server on the network, the c-treeACE database server brings a rich array of enterprise class features for large workgroup settings.

Many standalone applications have pushed the limits of standalone c-tree technology and can no longer grow as their needs expand. Many other existing standalone applications have grown to require the more advanced features of the full c-treeACE database server, such as SQL support, dynamic backups and advanced data encryption. The challenge for application developers has been how to bridge this gap.

Other standalone applications have pushed the limits of the development license. Our standard development license prohibits the use of the standalone operational model in an application that acts as a server. While building an application server with the standalone model may be technically appealing, this approach can result in license infringement.

Introducing the c-treeACE Dynamically Loadable Database Engine, or Server DLL. The Server DLL offers a cost effective, easily deployed solution to bring full client-server features to existing standalone applications. Quickly overcome confining standalone limitations:

• Standalone = Serialized Data Access with Limited Features
• Server DLL = Multithreaded Data Access with Lots of Features

The Server DLL is truly the best of both worlds: feature packed server options with embedded deployment ease.

The c-treeACE Database engine brings many advantages to existing applications. Need to avoid a costly client-server network upgrade? Developing an application server model requiring an advanced database engine? Require support for multiple users coupled with the safety of transaction processing? Desire advanced features found only in the c-treeACE Database engine?

The multithreaded c-treeACE Server DLL becomes the perfect fit and allows you to quickly bridge the transition. The Server DLL delivers fast multithreaded performance by avoiding additional network overhead - it links directly to your application. The c-treeACE Server DLL model can also be the cost effective solution with reduced hardware and network requirements, effortless deployment, as well as a discounted pricing schedule. Check out all of the advantages the Server DLL offers.

Advantages

Transitional Quickly bridge the transition from the limited standalone model to feature-rich Server technology. Avoid licensing limitations of standalone models. Features c-treeACE SQL - Robust SQL support concurrent with ISAM access. Dynamic Backups - Live data backups data without downtime hassles. Replication - Maintain "warm" backups for comprehensive disaster preparedness. Large Cache sizes - Escape the 2 Gb limits of standalone models. Encryption - Secure your data with advanced encryption algorithms. Partitioned Files - Manage data partitioned by keyed criteria as separate physical files. Memory Files - Take advantage of fast memory access for your tables. Deployment Drop in Shared Object - Deploy directly with your application installation. Complete control over configuration, access and usage. Performance Shares a single process space with your application. Fast! No communication layers. All database calls passed through the application stack. Multithreaded core engine. Economical A cost effective upgrade for standalone technology. Avoid dedicated server and network equipment. Discounted pricing over the full client-server model.

c-treeACE Professional for Windows users can build the Server DLL directly from the mtPro build utility. Look for the c-treeACE SDK Options tab.

Linux, Unix, and Mac users can choose the appropriate options from the mtmake build utility. For a standard c-treeACE engine choose option (1) from the following configuration menu option:

Select Configuration for the makefile...

1. c-tree Server SOURCE Model: Complete Compile/Link c-tree Server.

3. c-tree Server CTUSER Model: Create a CTUSER Dynamically Loadable Library.

Q. Quit

Then choose option (1) from the choice of library types:

Select Type of Libraries to make.

1. Shared Libraries (like: libctreestd.so...libctreestd.sl...etc.).

2. Static Libraries (like: libctreestd.a).

Q. Quit

Run the mk script as usual to create your c-treeACE loadable database engine.

Easy Application Changes

Using the c-treeACE Server DLL is easy. With only a couple extra lines of code - and maybe even none! - you can load the database engine directly from your ISAM or SQL applications. In some cases, the loading is completely automatic. Access is available through our complete range of flexible APIs:

• ISAM
  • ctThrdInit()
  • ctThrdTerm()
• c-treeDB C and C++
  • ctdbStartDatabaseEngine()
  • ctdbStopDatabaseEngine()
  • ctdbSetConfigurationFile()
• .NET
  • CTSession.StartDatabaseEngine()
  • CTSession.StopDatabaseEngine()
  • CTSession.SetConfigurationFile()

The c-treeACE Dynamically loadable database engine is easily configured with the standard server configuration file ctsrvr.cfg,

.NET C# Example

A complete example demonstrating the power and flexibility of the c-treeACE Server DLL is provided.

ctsrvrapp Example

See Also

Simple Server Deployment

c-treeACE Bound Server Model

Boost the Performance of Your c-tree Server