Backend Database Systems.

Backend database systems have been proposed as a solution to the problems of overloaded data processing installations. This tutorial examines backend database systems in terms of their basic structure, their potential benefits and drawbacks, and the problems facing developers of such systems. Several prototype systems are described, and research on extensions of the backend concept is discussed. The structure of the hardware and software components of backend database systems is presented in detail. The performance problems encountered in recent prototypes are pointed out and potential solutions indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]