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Digital Equipment Corporation and Oracle Corporation Demonstrate World's Largest In-Memory Commercial UNIX Based Relational Database

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Digital Equipment Corporation and Oracle Corporation have successfully demonstrated the world's largest in-memory commercial UNIX based relational database, showcasing unparalleled performance gains and breaking industry limits. This technological milestone heralds new possibilities for customers seeking to implement next-generation applications such as video-on-demand, decision support, and real-time worldwide geographic information systems. The demonstration highlights the advantages of 64-bit computing and sets a new standard for seamless integration of Oracle7 with Digital's Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP), clusters, and DEC OSF/1 operating system technologies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The world's largest in-memory commercial UNIX based relational database was demonstrated by Digital Equipment Corporation and Oracle Corporation, showcasing unprecedented performance gains.
  • Initial tests indicate performance gains of 600 to 800 percent when compared to existing database technology.
  • The demonstration highlights the advantages of 64-bit computing and sets a new standard for seamless integration of Oracle7 with Digital's Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP), clusters, and DEC OSF/1 operating system technologies.
  • The technology enables the implementation of next-generation applications such as video-on-demand, decision support, and real-time worldwide geographic information systems.
  • The demonstration features the introduction of Large System Global Areas (SGA) and Big Oracle Blocks, which enhance the performance of Very Large Databases (VLDB) and make in-memory relational databases a market reality.
  • Pauline Nist, Digital's vice president, High End Servers, stated that Digital's 64-bit Alpha technology and 64-bit DEC OSF/1 UNIX operating system are the main ingredients for database capacity of this magnitude.
  • Robert Pariseau, VP, DEC Products Division, Oracle Corporation, expressed excitement about the demonstration, stating that 64-bit technology has made these results possible.
  • Oracle and Digital have broken the limits of 32-bit UNIX based systems, enabling customers to support large mission-critical applications.
  • The partnership between Oracle and Digital is part of the joint Enterprise Solutions Program (ESP) launched in July.

Statistics:

  • Performance gains of 600 to 800 percent when compared to existing database technology.
  • Initial system cost for the 8-gigabyte in-memory Oracle database is one tenth the cost of traditional mainframe solutions.
  • Database application to fully exploit end-to-end 64-bit technology for the first time.
  • Large in-memory relational database can support massive Very Large Database (VLDB) applications.
  • Oracle and Digital efforts in the large in-memory database arena offer customers more than mainframe functionality, including leading-edge open systems technologies, flexibility, superior performance, and affordability.

Sources:

  • BUSINESS WIRE: "Digital Equipment Corporation and Oracle Corporation Demonstrate World's Largest In-Memory Commercial UNIX Based Relational Database"
  • Oracle Corporation: "Oracle and Digital Equipment Corporation Demonstrate World's Largest In-Memory Commercial UNIX Based Relational Database"

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