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7.4.5.2 Multiple Key Caches »
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7.4.5.1. Shared Key Cache Access

Prior to MySQL 4.1, access to the key cache is serialized: No two threads can access key cache buffers simultaneously. The server processes a request for an index block only after it has finished processing the previous request. As a result, a request for an index block not present in any key cache buffer blocks access by other threads while a buffer is being updated to contain the requested index block.

Starting from version 4.1.0, the server supports shared access to the key cache:

  • A buffer that is not being updated can be accessed by multiple sessions.

  • A buffer that is being updated causes sessions that need to use it to wait until the update is complete.

  • Multiple sessions can initiate requests that result in cache block replacements, as long as they do not interfere with each other (that is, as long as they need different index blocks, and thus cause different cache blocks to be replaced).

Shared access to the key cache enables the server to improve throughput significantly.