Remember our last article “Fast ElasticSearch, Token ACC and ECAT, Updates, Reports, and News. [Week 20 of 2024]”? In it, we mentioned a new solution that we are introducing to the ECAT eCommerce system – Sharding PostgreSQL . Today, I would like to tell you more about what PostgreSQL Sharding is and its role in the latest version of our system, Manager 3.0. This solution will be included in the upcoming major update of the Manager 3.0 system.
Imagine running a huge online store that handles thousands of orders, millions of queries, and hundreds of thousands of users simultaneously every day. In such a situation, having an efficient and reliable database that can meet these demands is crucial. This is where Manager 3.0 with its new PostgreSQL Sharding solution comes into play.
Sharding is a technique for dividing data into smaller, more manageable parts called shards, which are distributed across different servers. This significantly increases the performance and scalability of the system. But why is this so important for your business? That’s exactly what we want to explain to you today.
In this article, we will explain what PostgreSQL Sharding is, how it works within Manager 3.0, and the benefits it brings to the ECAT eCommerce system. Our goal is to show how sharding can significantly improve the performance, reliability, and scalability of the database that supports our entire infrastructure, translating into better customer service and higher profits.
Why is Sharding Important?
Sharding is a key solution for modern database systems, especially in demanding environments like e-commerce. But why is it so important? Let me explain.
Database Scalability
Imagine your online store is growing at an exponential rate. The number of orders, users, and transactions increases daily. At some point, a traditional database might not be able to keep up with this growth, causing slowdowns and performance issues. With sharding, we can scale the database horizontally, meaning adding new servers instead of increasing the power of a single one. Each server stores only a part of the data, making the entire system run faster and more efficiently, regardless of how much the user base grows.
Data Processing Performance
Sharding also significantly speeds up database operations. When data is split into smaller fragments, database queries are processed faster because each server only needs to handle a portion of the data. Think of it as dividing a task into many smaller tasks that can be performed simultaneously. This reduces query response times, which is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction, as they expect the website to operate quickly.
Database Reliability
Reliability is another key aspect of sharding. When data is distributed across multiple servers, the risk that a failure of one server will paralyze the entire system is much lower. Each shard operates independently, so even if one server goes down, the rest of the system can still function. This adds an extra layer of security and ensures that your data is always available, which is extremely important for online stores that need to operate 24/7.
Sharding not only increases scalability and performance but also ensures reliability, which is invaluable in a dynamic e-commerce environment. This way, you can rest assured that your database will handle any challenge posed by your growing business.
Redundancy in PostgreSQL Deployment
Redundancy in PostgreSQL deployment refers to various techniques and strategies aimed at increasing the availability and reliability of the database by creating backups of data and database infrastructure. Key elements of redundancy include replication and clustering.
Replication in PostgreSQL can be synchronous or asynchronous, meaning that data can be written to backup servers either before or after being confirmed on the main server.
Clustering involves creating groups of servers that can act as backup systems in case the main server fails, ensuring high database availability.
Additionally, redundancy includes regular data backups and recovery procedures, enabling quick database restoration after a failure. Failover mechanisms, such as Patroni, automatically switch traffic to a backup server if the main server fails. Load balancing is also crucial, optimizing performance and availability by distributing traffic across multiple server instances. All these techniques together create a system that minimizes downtime risk and ensures continuity of applications relying on the PostgreSQL database.
How Sharding Works in Manager 3.0
Manager 3.0 is an advanced system that handles a massive amount of data simultaneously and will use PostgreSQL sharding to enhance and ensure unparalleled performance and scalability. Let’s see how this mechanism works in practice.
System Architecture of Manager 3.0
I explained it using examples of stores, but a repeat won’t hurt; it’s about understanding the complexity of our software and the scale of orders we plan to handle in the near future. A fast-operating database, data security, and real-time availability determine the scale of our entire enterprise. A well-functioning system is fundamental.
Now imagine the architecture of Manager 3.0 as a network of many servers, each storing only a specific portion of data. These data are divided into smaller fragments, or shards as you now know, based on a specific sharding key, such as customer ID or order number.
Thus, when the system receives a query, whether related to searching for information, placing an order, processing that order, selecting products to list on a specific marketplace, or many other background processes invisible to the customer, it knows which server to direct the query to, significantly speeding up data processing. This distributed architecture allows for simultaneous processing of a massive number of queries, enhancing the overall system efficiency.
Technical Implementation of Manager 3.0
Technically, Manager 3.0 uses advanced PostgreSQL features, such as table partitioning and tools like Citus, to implement sharding. Partitioning allows large tables to be divided into smaller parts stored on different servers. Citus is a PostgreSQL extension that facilitates managing and processing distributed data. This enables the system to dynamically manage shards, monitor their load, and optimize data distribution. For users, this means smooth and fast application performance regardless of the load.
Managing Shards in Manager 3.0
One of the key elements of sharding in Manager 3.0 is automatic shard management. The system is designed to automatically add new shards as data volume grows. Imagine running a store that gains thousands of new customers daily. Manager 3.0 automatically adds new servers to accommodate this data without manual infrastructure management. Additionally, the system rebalances data, moving it between shards to evenly distribute the load and ensure optimal performance.
Manager 3.0 with PostgreSQL sharding is not only a modern but also an intelligent solution that allows for smooth scaling, high performance, and system reliability. This enables ECAT eCommerce to handle a massive amount of data and users while providing fast and reliable operation of its online store.
Benefits for ECAT eCommerce
Implementing PostgreSQL sharding in Manager 3.0 brings many benefits that directly impact the efficiency and success of ECAT eCommerce operations. What specific benefits can be observed? Let me explain.
Increased Performance
Thanks to sharding, ECAT eCommerce can enjoy a significant performance boost. When data is divided into smaller fragments and distributed across many servers, database queries are processed much faster. Think of it as a highway with multiple lanes – more cars can travel simultaneously without congestion. Online store customers will notice faster page load times and instant transaction processing, improving their experience and increasing the chances of making purchases.
Better Scalability
As ECAT eCommerce grows, the amount of data that needs to be stored and processed also increases. Sharding allows for easy horizontal database scaling, adding new servers as demand grows. This way, the company doesn’t have to worry about capacity limits or performance drops. The system automatically adjusts to the growing number of users and transactions, enabling smooth growth without downtimes or technical issues.
This function will be very useful because we plan to connect 1000 operators in each country where we operate. This will increase the amount of data to be processed. The number of connected warehouses and manufacturers offering their products for sale will also grow, significantly increasing the data processed. We are thinking about this now, while our traffic is still small compared to what we plan.
Reduced Downtime
Thanks to sharding, ECAT eCommerce can minimize the risk of system downtimes and failures. Data is distributed across multiple servers, meaning a failure of one does not paralyze the entire system. Imagine your online store suddenly has one server fail. With sharding, other servers take over the load, and the system continues to operate without interruptions. This increases service reliability, crucial in e-commerce, where every downtime can mean losing customers and profits.
Implementing PostgreSQL sharding in Manager 3.0 brings ECAT eCommerce tangible benefits in terms of increased performance, better scalability, and reduced downtime. This enables the company to provide reliable and fast service to its customers, translating into better business results and higher customer satisfaction.
Future and Development
Implementing PostgreSQL sharding in Manager 3.0 is just the beginning of the journey toward even more advanced solutions in ECAT eCommerce. Let’s look at the future plans and new functionalities that can further enhance the system.
Future Plans
Manager 3.0 with PostgreSQL sharding is the foundation on which ECAT eCommerce plans to build its future successes. The company plans to continue developing the database infrastructure to handle even higher loads and provide even better performance. Plans include introducing more advanced data replication mechanisms and dynamic resource management to make more efficient use of available servers. All this aims to prepare the system for future challenges and even faster growth in the number of users and transactions.
New Functionalities
PostgreSQL sharding in Manager 3.0 opens the door to introducing new, advanced features. One is real-time automatic scalability. This means the system will dynamically adjust the number of shards depending on the current load, ensuring optimal performance regardless of time of day or season. Another functionality is advanced monitoring and data analysis. With performance monitoring and load analysis tools, the technical team can quickly identify and resolve potential issues before they impact store operations.
Applying AI Technology
One of the most exciting directions for development is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the sharding system. AI can help automatically optimize data distribution across shards, predict load increases, and dynamically adjust resources. Imagine a system that learns and adapts to your business, always providing the best performance and reliability. This is the future that ECAT eCommerce plans to achieve with AI technology.
Manager 3.0 with PostgreSQL sharding is not just a solution for today but a solid foundation for the future. With ambitious development plans and the introduction of new functionalities, ECAT eCommerce will be able to meet any challenge and seize every growth opportunity while providing the highest quality service to its customers.
Article Summary: Sharding PostgreSQL for database management in Manager 3.0.
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