Use the second-level cache

Caching is used frequently; rarely updated data can greatly improve the performance of websites and other high traffic applications. In this recipe, we'll configure NHibernate's cache, just as we would for a typical public facing website.

Getting ready

Complete the Getting Ready instructions at the beginning of Chapter 4, Queries.

How to do it...

1. Add a reference to NHibernate.Caches.SysCache using NuGet Package manager console.

2. Open or create a new App.config file in the project.

3. In the configSections element, declare a section for the cache configuration:

   <section name="syscache"
   type="NHibernate.Caches.SysCache.SysCacheSectionHandler, 
   NHibernate.Caches.SysCache" />

4. Add the syscache section:

   <syscache>
   <cache region="hourly" expiration="60" priority="3" />
   </syscache>

5. Add a new folder named Caching to the QueryRecipes project.

6. Add a new XML file named hibernate.cfg.xml to the folder. Set its Copy to Output directory property to Copy always:

   <?xml...