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Overview of IPM

IPM is a linkable library that puts the core functionality of a TIBCO Rendezvous daemon (rvd) inside an application program process. By eliminating inter-process communication between the daemon and the application program, IPM can improve application data latency performance. In some business situations, even latency measured in very small units can make a crucial difference.

In normal Rendezvous operation, application programs communicate with a daemon process using TCP connections. Eliminating this inter-process communication link, and the context switch between processes, can reduce latency, however, the potential cost can be reduced throughput.

IPM is a tactical tool for reducing latency. Its effectiveness depends on application code and on environmental factors. For example, on a dedicated network with little other traffic, noticeable latency reduction is possible. However, sharing network bandwidth with other traffic can overwhelm the effect of improved latency. Inappropriate program architecture can negate this effect as well.

 

Although it is straightforward to introduce IPM into existing application code, it is good practice to employ this tool in concert with other techniques for reducing latency. Achieving low data latency can require further effort—including program redesign, empirical adjustments to runtime parameters, specialized network architectures and optimized environmental conditions. For further information and suggestions, see Chapter 17, Best Practices for Low Latency.

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