This sounds promising:

http://www.memsql.com/

(I'm on the waiting list.)

"Your application can instantly communicate with MemSQL using the MySQL protocol. The entire MySQL ecosystem remains at your disposal."

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PHP Development @ Tomakefast

Interesting. How is it different from using MySQL with the MEMORY storage engine? Would it keep my data safe if my server suddenly got Fremonted?

It seems in the recent SQL explosion, there's a lot of start-ups out there that are heavy on outlandish claims & light on facts.
MemSQL claims it is "30x faster" but that claim isn't very interesting until someone can verify it; NuoDB is another I ran into that claims to be "a revolutionary database solution."

Unfortunately, for the time being those are websites are for capital investment, not practical use :/

I'm finding it difficult to take MemSQL seriously... their web site has more technical information about the capabilities of their office than it does their product.

NuoDB at least has something, but it sounds a lot like MySQL Cluster, but without the problems inherent in being a mature, widely-used system with ample documentation and a familiar interface.

(I... think this is the nicest thing I've ever said about MySQL.)