MySQL solutions maker Tokutek is launching the latest version of its flagship database solution, TokuDB 6.5.  The new release features a number of improvements, including optimization for flash storage environments.

For starters, TokuDB has been enhanced to extend the life of flash memory, thanks to tweaks made to Fractal Tree, the company’s proprietary alternative to the B-Tree data structure.  The software indexes fewer blocks of memory by increasing their size, reducing wear on the Flash Translation Layer and the applications that sit on top.

In addition to this upgrade, V6.5 features improved support for analytical workloads. Faster insertion rates and more scalability for flash-based storage means better performance for applications that have to retrieve and update large amounts of data at the same time.

TokuTec made a couple of other augmentations as well. Its database software can now store ten times more data than the previous version thanks to better compression,  and columns can be added, removed or updated without having to take the DB online.

“TokuDB has a clever architecture for managing mixed read/write workloads,” said Curt Monash, president of Monash Research and editor of DBMS 2. “It will be interesting to see how that translates to solid-state storage.”

TokuDB is looking to capitalize on the momentum that SSD technology is gaining among enterprise users. And it’s not the only one – Fusion-io, Violin Memory and others joined by smaller players such as Virident.

Last week the startup announced a $26 million Series D funding round led by Mitsui Global Investments with participating from a number of other investors. Co-founder Kumar Ganapathy has made himself CTO for the occasion, and Mike Gustafsonas was hired as the company’s chief executive. Virident is becoming more serious about its core management team now that it has secured additional capital for operations, and has more investors to please.