Distributed database design methodologies

This paper surveys methodological approaches for distributed database design. The design of distribution can be performed top-down or bottom-up; the first approach is typical of a distributed database developed from scratch, while the second approach is typical of the development of a multi-database as the aggregation of existing databases. We review the design problems and methodologies along both directions, and we describe DATAID-D, a top-down methodology for distribution design. We indicate how the methodology is part of a global approach to database design; how to collect the requirements about the distribution of data and applications; and how to progressively build the distribution of a schema. Our approach is exemplified through one case study.