PrimoCache Server Edition

The cache memory plays a significant role in how fast your computer works. Aiming to make a system's response even more prompt, the PrimoCache Server Edition implements an intelligent caching scheme for physical disks. What it does is cooperate with the physical memory on your PC and other devices that can act as a cache repository to place frequently accessed disk data in a fast-access storage, so that future read and write requests become faster.

PrimoCache Server Edition interposes between the operating system and its applications on one side, and the storage volumes on the other. Its mission is to receive all input-output requests and search for the data in the cache first. If found, the files are forwarded to the system directly from the cache, which is much faster than a hard disk query. If not found, the data is first cached and then sent over to the request sender.

Although this entire process might seem complicated, working with the application is not difficult. There is a wizard that provides step-by-step assistance in creating a new task, from selecting the volume to be cached to configuring the level-1 and level-2 cache and the caching strategy (for reading operations, writing, or both).

A summary of a task's configuration is displayed within the main window, alongside statistical information regarding the amount of data read and written from the cache and the disk, the deferred and trimmed blocks, and the available cache memory.

Level-2 storage can be configured separately. It is possible to create a level-2 storage or a partition by explicitly converting a normal volume into such a device, with the purpose to provide data caching to slow HDDs. It is recommended to use an SSD (which is faster than an HDD) for level-2 caching, but note that all the data on the target disk will be lost, so make sure you create a backup beforehand.

One interesting feature of the Server edition of PrimoCache is that it can take advantage of the so-called "Invisible Memory" to implement a cache algorithm. The Invisible Memory is the unmanaged memory, usually available on x86 architecture PCs with at least 4GB RAM.

Relying on intelligent algorithms and smart data caching strategies, PrimoCache Server Edition promises to obtain a high cache hit ratio. Used wisely, this application might help you increase the performance of the system and extend the lifespan of your hard disk by reducing the amount of read and write operations needed to carry out a task.