Atomic commitment and query processing in database systems over wide-area active networks

This dissertation proposed atomic commit protocols and query processing algorithms for latency dominated wide area network environment. Two atomic commit protocols, early prepare and coordinator log, were analyzed. Modifications based on coordinator log were proposed. The concept of active networking was introduced for distributed database research. A scheme based on active networking, which utilizes the processing in the network to enhance database application performance in terms of time, bandwidth and storage, was devised. A protocol called ANPA was proposed by applying the active networking scheme to the presumed abort commit protocol. Recovery details were presented, and performance was analyzed. A prototype of ANPA was implemented using simple network management protocol (SNMP). For distributed query processing, issues such as transmission delay vs. propagation delay, bandwidth-on-demand, and multicast of ATM networks were addressed. A set of design strategies was derived. A distributed multi-way join algorithm was proposed using these strategies. Its performance was analyzed using an analytical model. Active networking techniques were utilized further to trade fussing in the network for bandwidth reduction of query meta-data processing.