Design and implementation of the wisconsin storage system

Abstract

Abstract We describe the implementation of a flexible data storage system for the UNIX environment that has been designed as an experimental vehicle for building database management systems. The storage component forms a foundation upon which a variety of database systems can be constructed including support for unconventional types of data. We describe the system architecture, the design decisions incorporated within its implementation, our experiences in developing this large piece of software, and the applications that have been built on top of it.