Comparison of three multiprocessor computer architectures for database support is made possible through evaluation of response time expressions. These expressions are derived by parameterizing algorithms performed by each machine to execute a relational algebra query. Parameters represent properties of the database and components of the machines. Studies of particular parameter values exhibit response times for conventional machine technology, for low selectivity, high duplicate occurrence, and parallel disk access, increasing the number of processors, and improving communication and processing technology.
As has been reported elsewhere
1-5
, the SYMBOL-2R computer system's basic design premises included the following:
1. implementation of a user-oriented high-level programming language directly in hardware;
2. provision of interactive computing service for as many as 31 independent user terminals simultaneously;
3. incorporation of a virtual-memory system, using a small core memory to buffer a large paging drum.
In this paper, we shall touch only peripherally on the last two of these premises; our chief concern here is to describe those aspects of SYMBOL's memory structure that impinge upon the first premise, namely, direct high-level language implementation.
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