AppFabric vs NCache - Summary

Microsoft AppFabric Cache was once a popular choice for developers as a distributed caching solution for .NET applications. It reached end-of-life in April 2022, leaving many developers searching for a reliable alternative. NCache stands as the ideal replacement, as it provides enhanced performance, cross-platform compatibility, and enterprise-level features. Additionally, it allows seamless migration with minimal code changes.

Let's compare AppFabric vs. NCache from a .NET developer's perspective, focusing on feature set, language support, platform compatibility, and cloud capabilities.

Feature Comparison: AppFabric vs. NCache

A modern distributed caching solution must offer features which extend simple key-value storage. It should offer high availability, scalability, and performance enhancements to cater the needs of enterprise applications. Here is how AppFabric and NCache compare:

Language and Platform Support

.NET Developers' Perspective

AppFabric was a Windows-only solution mainly designed for .NET Framework applications. However, modern applications demand cross-platform compatibility, particularly with .NET Core and .NET 6+. This is where NCache excels:

• Supports .NET Framework 4.x and .NET Core/.NET 6+, ensuring future compatibility.
• Provides Java, Python, and Node.js support for polyglot applications.
• Works on both Windows and Linux, unlike AppFabric, which was limited to Windows.

Windows and Linux Support

A major limitation of AppFabric was its dependency on Windows Server. NCache, on the other hand, supports both Windows and Linux, thus more flexible and cost-effective caching solution for cloud and on-prem environments.

NCache and Multi-Cloud Capabilities

As cloud adoption continues to rise, modern caching solutions must support multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments. Unlike AppFabric, which was confined to Windows Server, NCache integrates effortlessly with leading cloud providers:

• Azure: Fully compatible with Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and Azure Service Fabric.
• AWS: Offered as a preconfigured AWS Virtual Machine and Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS).
• Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Deployments: Enterprises can deploy NCache across Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and private clouds, ensuring business continuity and scalability.

Seamless Migration from AppFabric to NCache

For .NET developers still using AppFabric Cache, migrating to NCache is straightforward thanks to its AppFabric Cache API Wrapper. This allows applications to switch to NCache with minimal code modifications, ensuring a smooth transition.

Migration Steps:

1. Remove AppFabric References: Uninstall AppFabric dependencies.
2. Update Namespaces: Replace Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Caching with Alachisoft.NCache.Data.Caching.
3. Install NCache AppFabric Wrapper:

   Install-Package Alachisoft.NCache.AppFabricWrapper

4. Update Configuration: Modify app.config or web.config to point to NCache.
5. Deploy & Test: Run your application with NCache in place.

Conclusion

With the discontinuation of AppFabric Cache, NCache stands out as the suitable alternative for .NET developers looking for a high-performance, scalable, and cross-platform caching solution. In contrast to AppFabric, NCache provides full support for Windows and Linux, multi-cloud compatibility, and advanced caching features that ensure seamless application performance.

If you're still using AppFabric, now is the time to migrate to NCache for a future-proof and reliable caching solution.

What to Do Next?

• NCache Details
• Edition Comparison
• Schedule a Demo
• Download NCache