Backward Compatibility
NCache provides robust backward compatibility protocols designed to ensure seamless interoperability between legacy client applications and modernized cache server clusters. This operational stability allows organizations to perform zero-downtime infrastructure upgrades, apply critical security patches, and introduce new server features without the logistical burden of synchronously re-deploying or re-compiling existing client-side code. This protocol-level stability supports a heterogeneous environment where clients from version 3.8 onwards can smoothly coexist with the latest server releases.
Protocol Buffers
For backward compatibility, NCache uses protocol buffers. With these protocols, it keeps its structured data in efficient yet extensible formats. Thus, by using these protocols, backward client compatibility is ensured and cache clients can communicate with both the upgraded and older versions of the cache server. In new versions of the cache servers, new features are added, and existing ones are updated without breaking the compatibility of older clients.
Client Backward Compatibility
NCache Client Backward Compatibility ensures seamless interoperability between legacy client applications and modernized cache server clusters. By maintaining a stable communication interface, NCache allows organizations to execute rolling upgrades on the server tier or apply critical environment patches without forcing immediate software updates on the application side. This protocol-level stability is a cornerstone of NCache’s enterprise reliability, supporting a heterogeneous environment.
Cache Server Backward Compatibility
NCache also provides a cache server backward compatibility protocol designed for enterprise legacy support. This feature allows NCache 3.8 and onward clients to communicate smoothly with upgraded server versions without needing application redeployment or library re-referencing. This ensures that infrastructure upgrades do not force a synchronous update across your client-side application stack.
With this feature, a client functions correctly with both an older and an upgraded version of the server. Otherwise, with each update on the server tier, clients would have to be upgraded accordingly.
Upgrading a server to a new version involves adding new features of NCache while existing features remain unchanged. For example, an upgraded server can only add new features without changing the older ones. In this way, it will not break the compatibility with its older clients.
