Native XML Storage and Retrieval
Using the Openkast XML Engine means we do not have the usual performance overheads of using traditional relational databases when storing and searching rich XML files. Openkast has a full text index and a structural index which is created on the fly in real time and can provide huge performance over traditional relational databases.
XML is often seen as a performance problem when searching and managing data. Openkast allows users to search data by its content, by its structure and both in complexity and combination. Its data sizing efficiency allows more data to be stored within the main working memory of the system aiding the sub second search performance enjoyed in most occasions. The Openkast Engine is so efficient that it can run on a small, extreme portable product running reduced factor operating systems such as Win XP Embedded and mini distributions of Linux, through multiple engines on a single CPU running multiple virtual machines to across an enterprise on many systems and on many CPU's. The Openkast Engine runs in only 4MB and each engine manages over 1000 times that in data terms.
Scale
Openkast does not have many moving parts. It is a small, stripped for purpose data management product for XML described data.
The Engine has a SOAP interface with a concise set of instructions to access databases, add data, edit data, delete data, manage DTD's, perform queries and return results.
Multiple engine instances can be run on a single host server. Data may be compartmentalised across several engine instances across several host servers. Each engine only knows about its own data and is unaware of the existence of any other engine or its data under management. Instances are identified by the server IP address and port on which they are configured to service application requests.
Arrays of engines can be deployed across an enterprise search resource. Performance can be scaled predictably with very large sets of complex records.
Security
Openkast does not address the challenges of strong user authentication and authorisation. This is provided by commercially available secure operating systems such as WinST, Trusted Solaris or Secure Linux. The ClickFramework allows interacts with other backend authentication mechanisms:
- Microsoft’s Active Directory
- LDAP
- Linux PAM Modules
- Flat Username and Password Databases
Openkast offers a means of integrating security options within the data itself by segmenting data into different compartments running on separate machines and networks as well as tagging data "in line" avoiding the use of metadata tables and over arching indexes which can pose their own security issues.
Compartmentalised data held across multiple engine instances and servers can also be configured with other state of the art multi level secure platforms and XML firewalls to enhance the managed security environment.
