Buffer Pool Extension (BPE)

Ed Pollack

Insight into the SQL Server buffer cache

February 18, 2016 by

When we talk about memory usage in SQL Server, we are often referring to the buffer cache. This is an important part of SQL Server’s architecture and is responsible for the ability to query frequently accessed data extremely fast. Knowing how the buffer cache works will allow us to properly allocate memory in SQL Server, gauge accurately how databases are accessing data, and ensure that there are not inefficiencies in our code that cause excessive data to be cached.

Read more »
Murilo Miranda

Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) – How it works?

December 31, 2014 by

You already understand the benefits of the BPE and how to deal with the feature, now it’s time to better understand how it works.

Here we are, the last article of this Buffer Pool Extension series. We came from the explanation of what is the Buffer Pool, made an introduction of the new In-Memory technology and saw on what the Buffer Pool Extension can help in keep a stable environment, and finally, the part 3 showed how to implement the Buffer Pool Extension in your SQL Server 2014 system.

Read more »
Murilo Miranda

Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) – Implementing another level of cache

December 30, 2014 by

This third part of the BPE series shows the basics of Buffer Pool Extension and know how to implement and troubleshoot it.

During all the Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) series we have been explaining base concepts related to this new technology, as well as its benefits. We understood how the Buffer Pool works and the main benefits of implement the Buffer Pool Extension together with In-Memory technology. I recommend you to read the previous articles, if you are not familiarized with those concepts, so everything into this article will make more sense 🙂

Read more »
Murilo Miranda

Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) – In-Memory OLTP: The Memory Challenge

December 24, 2014 by

In continuation of the previous post “Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) – Introduction to the Buffer Pool”, we will keep diving into the Buffer Pool Extension, this time, talking about another important factor behind this feature – the memory. No, we will not review how the memory works literally, we are talking about the great SQL Server 2014 new feature: The In-Memory OLTP, or the known HEKATON.

Read more »
Murilo Miranda

Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) – Introduction to the Buffer Pool

December 9, 2014 by

Introduced on SQL Server 2014, the Buffer Pool Extension came to build up a new layer of cache, helping to maintain the “hot” pages accessible with less effort. With the introduction of Hekaton, the BPE has also an important role. In this article we will explore all the aspects of this new feature as well as understand how it works.

With the release of SQL Server 2014, earlier this year, some new features were released, with a special remark to the In-memory OLTP (Hekaton). Together with that new feature, new challenges were brought. The available memory is, of course, one of the main challenges. More ahead, we will understand better why.

Read more »
Milena Petrovic

SQL Server memory performance metrics – Part 4 – Buffer Cache Hit Ratio and Page Life Expectancy

March 5, 2014 by

In SQL Server performance metrics – part 3, we presented some of the SQL Server Buffer Manager metrics. As the SQL Server buffer pool manages data cache, it’s important to monitor various buffer pool metrics as they help identify and solve memory pressure issues

In this article, we will present 2 more Buffer Manager counters – Buffer Cache Hit Ratio and Page Life Expectancy.

Read more »