Logic-enhanced memory for high performance databases

Several emerging applications need a high performance, main memory database for which typical memory systems may be inadequate. In particular, the processor memory bandwidth proves to be a major performance limiting factor. We present the design of a back end object oriented database board and argue for its use in implementing high performance, real time applications. Our board uses programmable logic enhanced memory (i.e., data memory with select computing abilities) which is a novel way to obviate the low bandwidth problem for data intensive processing. Our efforts differ significantly from database machines by being more general purpose and targeting the bandwidth issue at a different level of the memory hierarchy. We describe the utility of logic enhanced memory in meeting the needs of high performance databases.