How do you test and monitor the effectiveness of EF second level cache in your projects?

1 Enable and configure the cache

The first step to test and monitor the cache is to enable and configure it properly. EF does not provide a built-in second level cache, but you can use third-party libraries, such as Entity Framework Plus or Entity Framework Core Second Level Cache Interceptor, to add this feature to your projects. These libraries allow you to specify which queries or entities you want to cache, how long you want to cache them, and how you want to invalidate them when the data changes. You can also use different caching providers, such as Redis, MemoryCache, or NCache, depending on your preferences and requirements.

2 Measure the cache hit ratio

The second step to test and monitor the cache is to measure the cache hit ratio, which is the percentage of queries that are served from the cache instead of the database. A high cache hit ratio indicates that your cache is effective and saving you database round trips and resources. A low cache hit ratio indicates that your cache is not used enough or that your cache policy is not optimal. You can measure the cache hit ratio by using the performance counters or logs provided by your caching library or provider. Alternatively, you can use tools such as MiniProfiler or Glimpse to monitor the number and duration of database queries executed by EF.

3 Analyze the cache size and memory usage

The third step to test and monitor the cache is to analyze the cache size and memory usage, which are the indicators of how much data you are storing in the cache and how much memory you are consuming. A large cache size and memory usage can improve the performance of your queries, but they can also introduce potential issues, such as memory pressure, garbage collection, or serialization overhead. You can analyze the cache size and memory usage by using the diagnostics or statistics provided by your caching library or provider. Alternatively, you can use tools such as dotMemory or PerfView to profile the memory allocation and consumption of your application.

4 Evaluate the cache consistency and freshness

The fourth step to test and monitor the cache is to evaluate the cache consistency and freshness, which are the aspects of how well your cache reflects the current state of your data and how often you update your cache. A consistent and fresh cache ensures that your queries return the correct and relevant results, but it also requires more synchronization and invalidation mechanisms, which can add complexity and overhead to your application. You can evaluate the cache consistency and freshness by using the hooks or events provided by your caching library or provider. Alternatively, you can use tools such as SQL Server Profiler or Azure Data Studio to track the changes and queries made to your database.

5 Compare the cache performance and scalability

The fifth step to test and monitor the cache is to compare the cache performance and scalability, which are the measures of how fast your queries execute and how well your application handles increasing load and concurrency. A performant and scalable cache improves the user experience and the reliability of your application, but it also depends on various factors, such as the cache policy, the caching provider, the query complexity, and the network latency. You can compare the cache performance and scalability by using the benchmarks or tests provided by your caching library or provider. Alternatively, you can use tools such as BenchmarkDotNet or LoadNinja to run performance and load tests on your application.

6 Optimize and tune the cache settings

The sixth step to test and monitor the cache is to optimize and tune the cache settings, which are the parameters that control how your cache behaves and operates. Optimizing and tuning the cache settings can help you achieve a balance between the benefits and trade-offs of caching, such as performance, memory, consistency, and freshness. You can optimize and tune the cache settings by using the options or methods provided by your caching library or provider. Alternatively, you can use tools such as Entity Framework Power Tools or EF Core Power Tools to inspect and modify your EF model and configuration.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?