[DERBY-5691] Document that Write Caching must be disabled to avoid possible database corruption

• Type: Improvement
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Major
• Resolution: Fixed
• Fix Version/s: 10.8.3.0, 10.9.1.0
• Component/s: Documentation
• Labels: Write_caching
• Environment: Microsoft Windows
• Urgency: Normal
• Issue & fix info: High Value Fix, Workaround attached
• Bug behavior facts: Data corruption
• Assignee: Camilla Haase
• Reporter: Sun Seng David Tan
• Created: 16/Apr/12 21:00
• Updated: 01/Nov/12 21:10
• Resolved: 23/May/12 13:35

Description

Suggestion that we document a recommendation that Windows Write Caching be disabled on machines using Derby.

The following article warns about Write Caching on Windows as a possbile source of database corruption:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281672
It is possible that this could be the cause of some unexplained Derby corruptions identified after power failure of other system interupt.

Links explaining how to disable Write Caching:
Win 2K: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/259716
Win 2008: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324805

From the Windows 2008 article:
With some third-party programs, disk write caching has to be turned on or off. Additionally, turning disk write caching on may increase operating system performance; however, it may also result in the loss of information if a power failure, equipment failure, or software failure occurs. This article describes how to turn disk write caching on or off.