Should You Use MMAP in Your Database Management System?
Explore the serious issues mmap can cause in database management systems and why it's not a viable alternative.
Memory-mapped (mmap) file I/O allows programs to access file contents as if they were in memory, but it introduces significant correctness and performance issues in database management systems (DBMS). Many popular DBMSs initially adopted mmap for larger-than-memory databases but faced hidden pitfalls that led them to manage file I/O themselves. This paper warns developers that mmap is not a suitable alternative to traditional buffer pools and outlines the key shortcomings and performance limitations of mmap for DBMS use.
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