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Download IgniteARCHITECTURAL BACKBONE
CORE FEATURES
DATA PLACEMENT & PROCESSING
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
ADDITIONAL USE CASES
Download IgniteARCHITECTURAL BACKBONE
CORE FEATURES
DATA PLACEMENT & PROCESSING
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
ADDITIONAL USE CASES
Session Management
And Caching At Scale
With Apache Ignite
Fast OR Durable? Choose Both.
Any-node session access with automatic failover and zero data loss
Any-node session access with automatic failover and zero data loss
The Trade-off Problem
Traditional session management architectures force an impossible choice: in-memory caches for low-latency access but memory-only storage (data loss on failure), or disk-backed databases for durability but slower access and sticky session constraints.
Sticky sessions create operational complexity and limit failover capabilities. In-memory caches without persistence risk session data loss during node failures. Database-backed sessions add latency and read-write blocking issues.
How Apache Ignite Solves This
Apache Ignite combines memory-first performance with automatic replication for durability and any-node access
Low-Latency Access
Memory-first architecture delivers low-latency session retrieval. Partition-aware routing enables direct access from any node without sticky sessions. Load balancers route requests freely across application servers without session affinity constraints.
Zero Data Loss
Distributed replication ensures session data survives node failures with automatic replica promotion. ACID guarantees maintain session consistency across replicas. No trade-off between speed and durability.
Architecture Pattern
Distributed Session Store Without Sticky Sessions
Application servers store and retrieve session data using Apache Ignite's KeyValueView API with automatic replication and partition-aware routing.
Integration Pattern: Web applications store session data in Apache Ignite using session ID as key. Any application server can retrieve any session without sticky routing. Load balancers distribute requests freely across application servers.
Consistency Model: Distributed replication ensures session updates propagate to all replicas with strong consistency. Session data remains consistent across all nodes. No eventual consistency windows.
Performance Characteristics: Low-latency session retrieval through memory-first storage. Partition-aware routing eliminates coordinator overhead. Horizontal scalability handles session volume growth.
When This Pattern Works
This architecture pattern is best for:
- Web applications requiring elastic scalability without sticky sessions
- Microservices architectures where session data needs global access
- Multi-region deployments requiring session replication
- High-availability requirements with automatic failover
Example Use Cases:
- E-commerce: Shopping cart state, user preferences, and checkout data accessible from any application server
- SaaS Platforms: User session state shared across microservices without sticky routing constraints
- Banking Applications: Secure session data with automatic failover and audit trail requirements
Key Benefits
Eliminate Sticky Sessions
Partition-aware routing enables any-node session access. Load balancers distribute requests freely across application servers. Simplifies deployment and improves resource utilization. No session affinity constraints.
Zero Data Loss
Distributed replication ensures session data survives node failures. Automatic replica promotion maintains availability during failures. No session data loss during deployments or infrastructure failures. Meets high-availability requirements.
Low-Latency Access
Memory-first storage delivers microsecond-to-millisecond session retrieval. ACID guarantees ensure session consistency without eventual consistency delays. Horizontal scalability handles session volume growth without latency degradation.
System Consolidation
Single platform replaces separate caching and session persistence layers. Reduces infrastructure complexity and operational overhead. Eliminates synchronization between in-memory cache and durable storage.
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Use Cases Overview