Note : The content shared below is a summary of all the information available on the internet and insights shared at the Knowledge 2024 keynote.
ServiceNow is making a significant upgrade to the foundation of its Now platform: the database. They're phasing out MariaDB and migrating all customers to a new database called RaptorDB.
This isn't just a minor tweak. RaptorDB is a fork of PostgreSQL, known for its advanced capabilities and superior performance. Developed by ServiceNow after they acquired Swarm64 (a PostgreSQL performance expert), RaptorDB boasts a significant speed boost – processing up to 93,257 transactions per minute compared to MariaDB's 35,121 (numbers referenced during Knowledge 2024 keynote)
(Source Knowledge 2024)
The performance gains will vary based on usage intensity. ServiceNow anticipates the most significant benefits for large organizations already pushing the limits of MariaDB. Here's a breakdown of the expected improvements for various clients:
- Small customers: 26% performance increase
- Medium-sized organizations: 52% performance increase
- Large organizations: 75% performance increase
(numbers referenced during Knowledge 2024 Keynote)
(Source Knowledge 2024)
Beyond raw speed, RaptorDB offers greater flexibility. Unlike MariaDB (a MySQL fork), RaptorDB leverages PostgreSQL's architecture, allowing for more complex queries and the creation of custom functions for further optimization. While MariaDB has its strengths, the Now platform's growth and complexity necessitate a more robust database solution.
With the Xanadu release and the backend database changes, the following areas will have a significant change in performance
- IT Operations Management: 41% faster!
- IT Asset Management: 53% faster!
- Customer Service Management: 33% faster!
- Overall workspace load time increase across all workspaces: 25%
(Source Knowledge 2024)
Migration Timeline
The transition is already underway, with some customers already on RaptorDB. ServiceNow expects to complete the migration for all customers by the end of 2025.
Conclusion :
From personalizing online shopping experiences to optimizing smart power grids, ServiceNow's RaptorDB database will tackle all diverse business challenges. It will empower companies to analyze massive amounts of data, both historical and real-time, to identify patterns and prevent problems. This will further enhance the efficiency and scalability of the platform and will unlock true potential of AI, giving businesses the agility to succeed in today's AI-powered world.
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