NAME

       Cache::SharedMemoryCache -- extends the MemoryCache.

DESCRIPTION

       The SharedMemoryCache extends the MemoryCache class and binds the data store to shared
       memory so that separate process can use the same cache.

       The official recommendation is now to use FileCache instead of SharedMemoryCache.  The
       reasons for this include:

       1) FileCache provides equal or better performance in all cases that we've been able to
       test.  This is due to all modern OS's ability to buffer and cache file system accesses
       very well.

       2) FileCache has no real limits on cached object size or the number of cached objects,
       whereas the SharedMemoryCache has limits, and rather low ones at that.

       3) FileCache works well on every OS, whereas the SharedMemoryCache works only on systems
       that support IPC::ShareLite.  And IPC::ShareLite is an impressive effort -- but think
       about how hard it is to get shared memory working properly on *one* system.  Now imagine
       writing a wrapper around shared memory for many operating systems.

SYNOPSIS

         use Cache::SharedMemoryCache;

         my %cache_options_= ( 'namespace' => 'MyNamespace',
                               'default_expires_in' => 600 );

         my $shared_memory_cache =
           new Cache::SharedMemoryCache( \%cache_options ) or
             croak( "Couldn't instantiate SharedMemoryCache" );

METHODS

       See Cache::Cache for the API documentation.

OPTIONS

       See Cache::Cache for the standard options.

PROPERTIES

       See Cache::Cache for the default properties.

SEE ALSO

       Cache::Cache, Cache::MemoryCache

AUTHOR

       Original author: DeWitt Clinton <dewitt@unto.net>

       Last author:     $Author: dclinton $

       Copyright (C) 2001-2003 DeWitt Clinton