Lehrgebiet Informationssysteme

FB Informatik

LG IS

AG DBIS

(C) AG DBIS

DBMS Architecture - New Challenges Ahead

Theo Härder

University of Kaiserslautern
P.O. Box 3049, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
e-mail: haerder@informatik.uni-kl.de

Full paper (PDF version)

Abstract: More than two decades ago, an architectural model based on successive data abstraction steps of record-oriented data was proposed as kind of a standard and later refined to a five-layer hierarchical DBMS model. While this model greatly supported all requirements of horizontal and vertical distribution of record-oriented DB processing, it is now challenged by a variety of new requirements and changes as far as processing environments, data types, functional extensions, heterogeneity, autonomy, etc. are concerned. We discuss some cases where the original layer model can only keep up through substantial changes in the individual layers and where totally new architectural models have to be found. Furthermore, a broader perspective is needed when dependable adaptive information systems are designed. In this respect, we will identify a big chasm resulting from diverging requirements and leading to a conflict in the design objectives: growing system complexity due to extensions in current DBMSs which will be augmented by improving adaptivity as opposed to urgent simplification needs mandatory for the development of dependable systems.

In: Datenbank-Spektrum, Heft 14, Aug. 2005, dpunkt-Verlag.