Super database computers

Description

In this paper, the notion and characteristics of very large databases for online storage and processing are motivated. The database computer requirements for large databases are given. The limitations and bottlenecks of the conventional database computer (i.e. , the database management system, DBMS, utilizing either the mainframe computer or the backend computer) are delineated. Unlike the database computer for small and simple databases, the database computers for very large and complex databases cannot rely on the upgrade of a conventional mainframe or a backend computer. Nor can it rely on the latest introduction or version of the DBMS. Instead, database computers for very large databases require new hardware organizations and novel software techniques in order to handle the databases cost-effectively and performance-efficiently. This paper recommends the kinds of hardware architectures and software techniques which may make database computers for very large and complex databases effective in both operation and cost and efficient in both response time and transaction throughout.

Subjects