The ODBMS role in 64 bit distributed client-server computing

Two trends in today´s corporate world demand distribution: downsizing from centralized mainframe single-database environments; and wider integration, connecting finance, engineering, and manufacturing information systems for enterprise-wide modeling and operations optimization. The resulting environment consists of multiple databases, at the group level, department level, and corporate level, but with the need for dependencies among data in all of them. The solution is full distribution, providing a single logical view to objects anywhere, from anywhere. Users see a logical model of objects connected to objects, with atomic transactions and propagating methods, even though composite objects are split among multiple databases, each under separate administrative control, on multiple, heterogeneous platforms, operating systems, and network protocols. 32-bit address spaces are not sufficient for this level of integration, so Objectivity/DB is based on 64 bits, providing access to millions of tera-objects, each of which may be many gigabytes. Support for production environments includes multiple schemas, which may be shared among databases or private, encrypted schemas, dynamic addition of schemas, and schema evolution. Integration must include legacy databases, such as RDBMSs, in this same transparent logical view of objects, and must cooperate with standards such as ODMG-93 and the OMG CORBA. Finally, the logical view must remain valid, and applications must continue to work, as the mapping to the physical environment changes, moving objects and databases to new platforms