Introduction to NonStop SQL/MP

Why Use NonStop SQL/MP?

1–4 113425 Tandem Computers Incorporated

orders for additional product to be delivered from the manufacturer directly to your

stores.

You work best with visual images, using a mouse to point and click on icons and

menu items. You want to access data from your PC and do not want to have to issue

SQL commands.

Solution

Technology for large tables. NonStop SQL/MP is especially appropriate for the large

tables used by decision support applications. For example, NonStop SQL/MP

includes features that eliminate the need to sort large tables in order to join them to

other tables or to compute aggregate values such as SUM or MAXIMUM.

Fast loading. By using parallel processing and buffers, NonStop SQL/MP can load

large amounts of data into a table at high rates. If the data is coming from

environments outside of Tandem, Tandem and third-party vendors can provide tools

to convert and edit the data before it is loaded into the database; these tools can also

facilitate parallel loading operations. In addition, NonStop SQL/MP allows you to

create indexes in parallel, which contributes to the fast loading of DSS data.

Availability. Although availability requirements are not as high for decision support as

for OLTP, many businesses now rely on their data warehouses (decision support

databases) for quick decisions. These businesses therefore require their data

warehouses to be available at all times. In addition, some queries can need several

hours or even days to complete. NonStop SQL/MP is designed to remain available,

even during long-running tasks, so it does not need to be restarted if a hardware

failure occurs.

Client tools. Query tools available on the PC and the Macintosh computer allow users

to select data using point-and-click technology (such as a mouse) and display data in

graphical format. NonStop SQL/MP supports the most popular methods for

accessing data from PC client programs. (These data access methods include ODBC,

DAL, EDA/SQL, SQL Server, and SQL*Connect.) In addition, Tandem has a

Verification Center to ensure that PC applications work as they are supposed to with

NonStop SQL/MP.

Scenario: Scalable

Electronic Commerce

Your company provides a service for manufacturers by accepting electronic orders and

routing them to the appropriate supplier. Billing and shipment acknowledgements

are also handled electronically.

Basically, your company receives an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) message,

examines the message to determine its destination, and ensures that the message gets

delivered to its destination. Messages can come in bursts, and you need to make sure

you do not lose any messages.

Your service has been so popular that business has doubled every six months. You

need to handle this increased volume with the same speed and reliability that got you

the business in the first place.

You have expanded your operations and maintain databases at six locations around

the world. Some messages include data in European languages, some in Asian