A relational database system architecture based on a vector-processing method

Abstract

A new relational database system architecture based on a vector-processing method is presented. The similarity between table and vector structures has been studied. This similarity implies that vector processors have high potential for the performance improvement of relational database management systems (RDBMS). In commercial RDBMS, however, data records are internally organized in complex pointer structures, to which vector processing is not directly applicable. We propose a new vectorization method by which data in the pointer structures are dynamically rearranged into the vector form, and collectively processed using a pipelined vector processor. A new pipelined vector processor called an integrated database processor (IDP), which is particularly suitable for our vectorization strategy, has been developed. IDP is designed as an optional hardware for a general-purpose computer. The vectorization method and IDP are applied to Hitachi's recently announced, commercial RDBMS (called RDB1/IDP). In this paper, the vectorization method and the architecture of IDP are described. The performance improvement is also described and analyzed.