Multi-Dimensional Clustering: A New Data Layout Scheme in DB2

We describe the design and implementation of a new data layout scheme, called multi-dimensional clustering, in DB2 Universal Database Version 8. Many applications, e.g., OLAP and data warehousing, process a table or tables in a database using a multi-dimensional access paradigm. Currently, most database systems can only support organization of a table using a primary clustering index. Secondary indexes are created to access the tables when the primary key index is not applicable. Unfortunately, secondary indexes perform many random I/O accesses against the table for a simple operation such as a range query. Our work in multi-dimensional clustering addresses this important deficiency in database systems. Multi-Dimensional Clustering is based on the definition of one or more orthogonal clustering attributes (or expressions) of a table. The table is organized physically by associating records with similar values for the dimension attributes in a cluster. We describe novel techniques for ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: SIGMOD
• Authors: Sriram Padmanabhan, Bishwaranjan Bhattacharjee, Timothy Malkemus, Leslie Cranston, Matthew Huras
• Keywords: Database, Multi-dimensional Clustering, Orthogonal Clustering Attributes, Primary Clustering Index, SIGMOD 2003