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Performance considerations in relational and hierarchical data base management systems

University of British Columbia

This paper will examine two data base management systems; IMS, an example of a hierarchical data base management system and System R, a relational system. Each system will be described in general terms followed by a discussion of their relative performance. A claim is made that IMS, because of its structure and the procedural nature of its language can be more efficient than System R. Some examples are given to illustrate this claim. There is an increasing need today for readily available information; thus more and more information is being stored in disk files to facilitate rapid retrieval. A relational approach to data base management permits a high-level non-procedural interface for the user, which is important if more people require access to information in a flexible fashion and can not afford or wait for traditional application development. If however a relational data base management system is not as efficient as hierarchical or network systems then new retrieval methods must be found. Associative processors are introduced as a possible solution to this problem and three examples are discussed. RAP, a relational associative processor developed at the University of Toronto, has been used in a performance study to demonstrate the dramatic performance improvements offered by associative processors. This is also discussed.

Text

2010-03-20

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/22207

Computer Science

University of British Columbia

Graduate