SAP HANA (High-Speed Analytical Appliance) is an in-memory database platform developed by SAP that can be deployed on premises or in the cloud. An IMDB (in-memory database) is a type of database that stores data in a computer’s main memory (RAM) rather than using traditional disks or solid-state drives (SSD). SAP HANA capable of access in-memory data 10,000 times faster. Therefore it allows companies to analyze large amounts of data and process transactions in seconds rather than hours. Though most other databases today have added more in-memory capabilities, but they are still utilized a disk-based storage database at first. SAP HANA was built from scratch to run with data in-memory first and using other storage mechanisms when necessary to balance performance and cost.
SAP HANA runs advanced analytics together with high-speed transactions in a single system. As a result, it lets companies process huge amounts of data with near zero latency, query data instantaneously and become truly data driven. SAP HANA is distinct and significant faster than other DBMS (Database Management Systems) by storing data in column-based tables in computer main memory (RAM) and work simultaneously with Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) and Online Transactional Processing (OLTP).
In-memory databases are often used for applications that require high speed and ability to handle large transactions such as telecommunications networks and banking systems. Due to less expensive RAM, companies have started to use in-memory databases for a wider range of applications, including real-time analytics and predictive modelling, customer experience management, logistics, and much more. SAP HANA enable real-time analytics for monitoring telecommunications networks, fraud detection and security, forecasting and profitability reporting, optimizing energy use and other business processes.
SAP HANA is much more than a database. SAP HANA capabilities include analytics, advanced search and data integration for all types of data (for structured and unstructured). It also can featured as application server and build smart, insight-driven applications based on real-time data, in-memory computing, and machine learning technology.
There are three different types of SAP HANA edition as mention below:
- SAP HANA Platform Edition – It is core database technology. It integrates SAP component like SAP HANA database, SAP HANA Studio and SAP HANA clients. It is for user who use ETL-based replication.
- SAP HANA Enterprise Edition – It contains data provisioning component (SLT, BODS, DXC) also including core database technology. It is for user who use either trigger-based replication or ETL-based replication.
- SAP HANA Extended Edition – It contains data provisioning features (Sybase) more than Platform and Enterprises edition. It is for user who use the full potential of all available replication scenarios including log-based replication.
SAP HANA In-Memory Operation
SAP HANA run many processes running on the SUSE Linux Server. SUSE Linux server manages memory reservation to all process. When SAP HANA initial run, Linux OS allocate memory for the program code, program stack, and static data. Linux can dynamically allocate additional data memory upon request from the SAP HANA Server.
SAP HANA create memory pool for managing and tracking the consumption of memory. This pool used to store all the in-memory data and system tables, thread stack, temporary computations and all other data structure required for managing the database. SAP HANA memory manager will utilize pool also when more memory required for table growth or temporary computations.
Top 10 benefits of SAP HANA
- Complete : Inclusion of database services, advanced analytical processing, application development, and data integration
- Fast : Rapid responds to queries in less than a second in large production applications
- Versatile : Able to have hybrid transactional and analytical processing and many data types
- Efficient : Provision of a smaller data footprint with no data duplication, advanced compression and reducing data silos
- Powerful : Rapidly queries large datasets with a massively parallel processing (MPP) database
- Scalable : Customizable scales for data volume and concurrent users across a distributed environment
- Flexible : Can be deploy in a public or private cloud, in multiple clouds, on premise, or in a hybrid scenario
- Simple : One single gateway to all your data with advanced data virtualisation
- Intelligent: Capable of Augments applications and analytics with built-in machine learning (ML)
- Secure : Enable comprehensive data and application security, secure setup, and more
From <https://www.sap.com/sea/products/hana/what-is-sap-hana.html>