Re: Database Kernels and O_DIRECT

>>>>> "Tom" == Tom Lane <tgl(at)sss(dot)pgh(dot)pa(dot)us> writes:

Tom> I tend to agree with the opinion that Oracle's architecture
Tom> is based on twenty-year-old assumptions. Back then it was
Tom> reasonable to assume that database-specific algorithms could
Tom> outperform a general-purpose operating system. In today's
Tom> environment that assumption is not a given.

In fact:

Michael Stonebraker: Operating System Support for Database Management.
CACM 24(7): 412-418 (1981)

Abstract:

Several operating system services are examined with a
view toward their applicability to support of database
management functions. These services include buffer pool
management; the file system; scheduling, process
management, and interprocess communication; and
consistency control.

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Sailesh
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