Importance

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Abstract

Techniques for distributing database functions in a system of database devices includes performing database management tasks for a database on a first device connected to a network. The first device is designated a database host. Data file storage and retrieval tasks for the database are sent to a second device connected to the network. The second device is designated an off-host storage device. The first device may be a database server appliance, which includes a processor; a database server process, a special purpose operating system and non-volatile storage. The database server process persistently stores data files for the database on a second device connected to the database server appliance over a network. The special purpose operating system has features and configuration that are dictated by the database server and supporting components. The non-volatile storage is sufficiently large to store and execute instructions that cause the processor to perform as the database server process and the special purpose operating system and not sufficiently large to store all data files in the database. These techniques increase reliability of the database on the network by insulating database server processes from the storage system. These techniques also allow sharing of a high performance storage system among multiple database server appliances.

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First Claim